Projects

Channel Tunnel Rail Link - Rail Link Engineering

Rail Link Engineering is a consortium of engineering organisations tasked with project managing the design and construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Southdowns staff began working with RLE in 1997 at the early stage of detailed design.

As part of a multi-disciplinary environmental team, the in-house noise and vibration team had a wide range of activities and responsibilities including:

  • Reviewing and advising engineers on the Project’s noise and vibration commitments.
  • Advising design teams and project engineers on specific mitigation measures to achieve commitments;
  • Liaison and negotiation with external parties (statutory bodies, Local Authorities etc), on detailed proposals submitted for planning purposes;
  • Detailed operational noise modelling of route to establish detailed noise barrier requirements and costs;
  • Detailed design of bespoke noise barriers and absorptive panels for surface and elevated sections of high speed line;
  • Development of technical specifications for the performance of resilient track systems for vibration and groundborne noise mitigation;
  • Development of tender documentation (inc. specifications) for the main construction contracts for the project;
  • Tender evaluation and technical interviews with tenderers;
  • Presentation of technical material to senior management on critical acoustical considerations and risks for project;
  • Training for RLE, Union Railways and Contractors on specific noise and vibration related issues;
  • Development of management system for Section 61 consents process across all contractors;
  • Auditing and site inspections to ensure compliance with the Project’s Environmental Management Systems;
  • Value Engineering workshops on noise barrier designs, mitigation of structure radiated noise and groundborne noise and vibration;
  • Managing the detailed FE analysis of structure radiated railway noise within the proposed station areas of the new terminus at St Pancras;
  • Detailed modelling of aerodynamic noise from ventilation shafts due to the operation of ventilation equipment and passage of high speed trains;

Project management of numerous other acoustic testing and modelling programmes including:

  • Measurements on in-line ventilation shaft components for aerodynamically induced re-radiated noise (laboratory);
  • Dynamic stiffness testing of various resilient components for track form mitigation (laboratory);
  • Scale acoustic modelling of forced ventilation equipment within tunnels (laboratory);
  • Rheostatic braking noise profiles for Eurostar trains (field);
  • Testing of noise barrier and absorptive panel designs (laboratory); and
  • FE analysis of structure radiated noise from large elevated structures to assist in track form design.

 
Tel: +44 (0)1273 488186   Fax: +44 (0)1273 488187 Southdowns Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite A3, 16 Station Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2DB, UK     Reg No. 3150111