In December 2007 Signalling Solutions Ltd (SSL) were awarded the signalling and telecommunications contract for the new Orient Way Carriage Sidings in East London, a high profile and vital element of the construction enabling works for the Olympic Stadium. The 12 road 25kv electrified sidings, constructed on behalf of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) by Balfour Beatty Rail Projects (BBRP), replaces Thornton Field's sidings, situated in the heart of the Olympic Park, and provides a new stabling facility for National Express East Anglia (NXEA).
Project Description
All arrivals and departures via the reception road are under the control of the shunter, who authorises all movements within the sidings. An indication panel has been provided in the new shunter's accommodation displaying the layout of the sidings, which includes 3 No. new ground position light (GPL) signals, 15 No. new HW2000 series point machines, and 3 No. new high voltage impulse track circuits on the reception road.
The panel also incorporates indications for the 3 No. track circuits, control switches for the 3 No.signals and the east end Shunters Acceptance Switch, which has been relocated onto the panel, allowing the shunter to control movements onto the reception road for the siding.
Individual switch boxes have been provided adjacent to each point end to operate those points. A new relocatable equipment building has been provided adjacent to the shunter's accommodation containing the associated circuity. In addition, 2 No. new signalling locations and 2 No. telecoms locations were also provided.
Signal post telephones to the new 32 line STS concentrator in the shunter's accommodation have been provided for each signal, and at each stopboard at the exit to each stabling sidings and at the end of the reception road. A point zone telephone has also been provided at the points leading into the stabling sidings.
A new Small Train Describer system was provided between Orient Way Sidings and Liverpool Street Integrated Electronic Control Centre.
SSL also provided 2 No. new CCTV systems, comprising of 3 cameras to observe the sidings and 4 security cameras, all monitored from the new accommodation block. Telephones and facsimile machines were also provided.
In early 2008 the ODA challenged the project delivery partners to accelerate the provision of the sidings by 5 weeks in order to assist the construction of the Olympic Park, which was achieved.
Attending the opening ceremony on the 7th July 2008 Rail Minister Tom Harris said "we want to deliver a world class transport system for the Olympic Games in four years time. It is very encouraging that the first piece of the infrastructure has been brought in by the ODA ahead of time and under budget."
The ODA Chairman John Armitt commented further that "The completion of Orient Way was imperative to the start of the stadium construction, and I am delighted that all delivery partners involved have completed this significant project five weeks early and on budget."
PROJECT STATISTICS
Client : BBRP (for ODA)
Date of Award : December 2007
Date of Completion : August 2008
Orient Way Carriage Sidings.pdf