STABILITY FOR THE LONDON RAIL EMBANKMENT

The use of Leca® Lightweight Aggregate provides the solution for a 200m London Rail embankment with limited access on a busy rail line.

Engineers for Transport for London were tasked with providing the structural stability and lightweight solution for one of the busiest rail lines in London. Leca® Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate was installed as a lightweight backfill which was placed within a RAM WALL system, stabilising the embankment walls along a 200m stretch of the Acton Town to Chiswick Park London Underground.

Phil Richardson of Innovative Support Systems Ltd. explains that “Deterioration of the embankment was compromising the stability of the wall and it was deemed necessary to re-grade the slope to reduce and transfer weight directly above whilst at the same time creating a walk way to access the line-side services.

The problem facing the Transport for London was that the railway embankment was situated directly behind residential property in a busy area of London and alternative aggregate was proving to be dangerously problematic due to the heavyweight pressure – causing potential major long term structural issues. Leca® Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate fundamental lightweight properties solved this issue with ease.