Overhaul of Swanley Station

In late 2020 Ready Construction, working alongside BAM Nuttall, were awarded the contract to overhaul Swanley Station. For this contract Ready were tasked with upgrading the existing footbridge and platform canopies to not only improve the passenger experience and make the station a safer environment for the public but also future proofing the station for the next 25-year cycle.

The upgrade works to the footbridge involved the removal of the old timber framed windows and upgrading them to UPVC double glazed windows, the blasting and painting of the existing steelwork to recoat and protect it, upgrading the stairways to new GRP treads and adding GRP handrails, steel repairs both inside and outside and finally fully cladding the outside of the footbridge. As the footbridge was classed as a public right of way from one side of the tracks to the other it was unable to be closed at any time. This meant careful planning and safety measures had to be put in place to ensure the public were kept segregated and safe at all times while the works progressed especially during the blasting works to remove the existing paintwork.

To help facilitate the outer works to the footbridge, scaffolding was erected where possible. This required de-vegging to be carried out on the bankings either side of the station to remove the small trees and vegetation starting to grow too large for the area and allowing access underneath the footbridge for the scaffolding and towers to be erected. To carry out these works RC had a team of specialised rope access trained operatives on site working their way along either banking as required to carry out the works.

Access to the remaining sections of the outer footbridge had to be by scaffold towers assembled on site each night to access the works. Due to the 3rd Rail running through Swanley Station the towers had to be GRP rather than aluminium with constant vigilance from the operatives & Supervision to ensure a safe distance was kept while erecting and moving the towers with shrouds being used and isolations being put in place as required.

The works to the platform canopies included the removal of the old timber vallance boards, a lot of which were starting to rot and become unsafe, and upgrading them to new GRP boards, the removal of the old steel roof sheets and upgrading them with new aluminium sheets, steel repairs and strengthening works and various small works to the gutters and downpipes to ensure the water was flowing freely through the drainage systems for the canopies.

Similar challenges were faced with the use of the scaffold towers to access the canopies with the 3rd Rail with shrouds and isolations being in place as required as the works progressed. The scaffold towers for the canopies were used with the rail attachments for ease of movement as the works progressed along the outside of the canopy.
Small civils works also took place through the station with new tactiles and surfacing being installed on the platforms, brickwork repairs being carried out and small concrete repairs and grouting works taking place as well.

During the early months of the works at Swanley, COVID-19 restrictions were still in place which added further elements to be considered when planning and carrying out the works with the use of air-fed masks being the main additional to PPE for operatives sharing a scaffold tower platform along with adhering to the normal social distancing restrictions being rolled out to everyone from the government.

In what was a challenging job for various reasons the works were carried out without accident or incident while also being complete on time and on budget.