UNDERTRACK PNEUMATIC DELIVERY FOR CYCLE PATH DEVELOPMENT | BATHGATE RAIL STATION

Over 1800m3 of LECA® Lightweight Aggregate (LWA) was installed for the Whiteside Overbridge for the Aidrie-Bathgate railway line – linking Edinburgh to Glasgow.

The Airdrie-Bathgate Railway Link connects Edinburgh to Glasgow through Bathgate, Drumgelloch and Airdrie.

For this development Network Rail required a fill material for a backfill for both ends of the new cycle path bridge abutments.

The purpose of the cycle path footbridge was to initiate a drive for a sustainable cycle path footpath for the local residents to encourage walking/ cycling in the area and to create access to both sides of the track.

The key benefits included:
•   Increased number of services with four trains per hour in each direction between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate, with connections beyond
•   Two new, two relocated and three upgraded stations
•   Increased reliability of existing services and shorter travel times
•   Increased parking providing improved park-and-ride options
•   Reduction of passenger congestion on the current Edinburgh-Glasgow rail shuttle services
•   An alternative travel option to using the M8

FACTS

Amount of material: 1800m3 of LECA ®LWA (10-20mm)

Interesting Fact: Due to the issue of working around a live track – a solution as required which allowed for no track possession or closures.

Main Contractor: BAM Nuttall

Lightweight Solution

For this development because of the delicate groundwork conditions and faced with the issue of a live track which was required to continue operation – a solution as required which allowed for no track possession or closures.

UNDERTRACK PNEUMATIC DELIVERY FOR CCLE PATH DEVELOPMENT | BATHGATE RAIL STATION

It was through these requirements that LECA® Lightweight Fill was selected to be pneumatically delivered through a piping system which can effectively blow up to 50m3 per load – saving time for the developers and man power resource. Furthermore, this reduced the amount of traffic required to the site, as the lightweight nature of LECA® Lightweight Fill means less vehicles for delivery when compared to traditional heavier fill material including rock aggregate.

Over 1800m3 of LECA® Lightweight Fill was successfully installed for this development.

An alternative material was proposed for this project, but it was LECA® Lightweight Fill's s successful history within similar geotechnical projects and the unique ability to be pneumatically delivered that LECA® Lightweight Fill was deemed as a key solution.