Electrification of British Railways' East Coast Main Line: Civil Engineering Works, Doncaster to Berwick

Abstract

This Paper describes a number of significant civil engineering projects associated with the electrification of the East Coast Main Line, between Doncaster and the Scottish Border. It does not provide a comprehensive catalogue of the work carried out but concentrates on some of the more interesting items. The topics covered include an overbridge reconstruction, the jacking up of the 33 m span truss bridge at Holgate Road, major remodelling of the track layout and related station structure alterations, all at York. Some particular considerations to be addressed when modernizing railways which pass through or over listed structures are discussed, with special reference being made to work carried out at Durham Viaduct, Durham Station, Newcastle High Level Bridge, Newcastle Central Station, Newcastle Ouseburn Viaduct, Morpeth Station, and Berwick Royal Border Bridge. Rationalization of the track-layout at and around Newcastle is outlined along with some of the bridge works required. An economical method was found for lowering the tracks to achieve electrification clearances through Red Barns Tunnel. This is described. Also provided are details of the solution used for stabilizing the railway where this crosses Newham Bog between Morpeth and Berwick. This novel approach, using geotextiles and plastics, enabled the line speed over the peat bog to be raised from 125 km/h (80 mph) to 160 km/h (l00 mph) cost-effectively, to the satisfaction of the client, InterCity.