Various Services
Belfast Transport Hub
ClientBabcockValue£7.4mLocationBelfast
Description of works
Trackside civils at the new Belfast Transport Hub
Ready Construction working alongside Babcock were awarded the contract for the main trackside civils at the new Belfast Transport Hub project which would see the existing Great Victoria Street Train & Bus Stations moved into one new combined station for both with new road and rail layouts created to accommodate the new routes in and out of the new station building. The works carried out by Ready Construction included the installation of the new Track Drainage, Cable Routes both above and below ground including UTXs, Concrete Signal Bases both in situ and precast, Precast LOC Suite & SPT bases, Walkways, De-veg, Boundary Fencing, Compound Setups & various Signage.
To ensure all the works ran smoothly and to minimise the risk of delays all works were planned in as part of the larger programme both for the RC contract and as part of the integrated programme with the other disciplines on site with input from all parties required to make sure access to certain areas was achieved as required. RC worked closely with Babcock’s planning team through regular meetings and discussions on site to plan in the works, sometimes having to make changes to the current programme at short notice.
In planning the works properly and having dates for when they would take place it allowed RC to be able to have our work teams lined up and ready to attend site ensuring we had the correctly trained personnel on site to carry out the works required and had them available for the required duration of the works. This also allowed us to plan properly for the works to be carried out safely with the correct plant and tools being ordered and brought to site, the correct possession zones, paperwork and safety critical staff all in place and ensuring no other works were happening in the area at the time to allow for exclusion zones to be setup as required.
Fatigue management was also made easier with proper planning as it allowed for making sure everyone had the required rest period between shifts and allowing adequate time for the works to be carried out ensuring no one was working over their allocated shift time.
In March 2024 Ready Construction were awarded a further contract for the Summer Blockade Civils works after the tender process extending our time on site and keeping us there until the end of the project.
All works were carried out safely and efficiently throughout the contract without any accidents, with all the works delivered to a high standard and with a highly detailed Quality File handed over for all works carried out.
Approach
The works comprised the following principle elements:
Approach
Integrated programme planning: Worked hand-in-hand with Babcock’s planners and the wider project team to slot every civils activity into the hub-wide schedule, reshuffling at short notice when other disciplines needed priority access.
Right people, right time: Forward-loaded labour plans ensured appropriately trained trackside crews, safety-critical staff and specialist plant were on site exactly when possessions opened.
Safety-led execution:
- Detailed work package plans, ALO controls and exclusion zones for each activity.
- Pre-approved possession paperwork and tool / plant checks before every shift.
Fatigue management: Rostered rest periods and shift-length limits built into the programme, reducing over-runs and maintaining alertness.
Continuous improvement: Award of the March 2024 Summer Blockade Civils package extended RC’s remit; lessons learned from early works fed straight into the blockade plan.
Quality & zero-harm culture: No accidents or incidents; comprehensive quality file handed over for every element on completion.
Scope of Work
Trackside civils infrastructure
- Install new track-drainage system.
- Construct above- and below-ground cable routes, including under-track crossings (UTXs).
- Cast in-situ and install precast concrete signal bases.
- Place precast LOC suite and SPT bases.
Access & lineside assets
- Form GRP or concrete walkways for maintenance access.
- Undertake vegetation clearance (de-veg) along the alignment.
- Erect new boundary fencing and adjust existing handrails.
Site establishment & finishes
- Set up work compounds, storage areas and welfare units.
- Supply and fix way-finding and safety signage across the works.
Project support activities
- Possession planning, safety documentation and quality assurance records for all works.
