Excavation Support Design for Rail Drainage Works
Published: 20/10/2026 13:08
Richter supported Colas Rail with a temporary works design for drainage repair works near Shelford Station and level crossing.
The works required excavation around an existing drainage run to allow repairs and the installation of new pipework in close proximity to the track.
Richter developed an excavation support arrangement using MGF Vertishore equipment. The system was already available to Colas Rail following previous drainage works nearby, which had also been designed by Richter.
A key design challenge was developing an arrangement around both existing and proposed catchpits. The Vertishore spacing needed to be flexible enough to provide sufficient working space for repairs and the installation of new pipework, whilst remaining within safe design parameters. The temporary works layout was therefore developed around the drainage geometry and the space required by operatives to undertake the works safely, whilst ensuring no ground movement around the tracks.
The works were undertaken during a possession, meaning the ground conditions needed to be fully understood beforehand, as there would be no time for redesign. Colas Rail was required to confirm that the existing ground conditions corresponded with the available borehole information by excavating trial pits close to the track, without affecting it. Regular inspections of the excavation and Vertishores were also required to identify any significant changes in the surrounding soils.
The reuse of MGF equipment already available on site avoided the need for additional equipment deliveries, providing a practical solution for Colas Rail whilst reducing project costs and transport movements, and consequently lowering the project's carbon footprint.
