Hitchin Grade Separation | CEEQUAL

Hitchin Grade Separation

Hitchin Grade Separation | CEEQUAL

CEEQUAL Excellent (82.9%) – Design & Construction Award
Version 5, Nov 2015 | Hitchin, England

ClientNetwork Rail
DesignerTony Gee & Partners
ContractorHOCHTIEF (UK) Construction
Assessor: Derek Walter (HOCHTIEF), Julian Gregory (Ecovigour)

Project Summary

This project was conceived by Network Rail over 15 years ago to improve timetables on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) where the Cambridge line traffic crossed the ECML on a flat crossing. The Cambridge Junction Grade Separation Project (now identified as the “Hitchin Alliance”) takes the Down Cambridge line over the ECML via embankments and viaducts, to rejoin with the existing Cambridge route approximately 1.5km east of Hitchin.

The project involved the construction of the new elevated route via imported fill embankments and an elevated rail flyover extending over 800m and comprising steel girders and concrete deck. At either end of the grade separation new junctions were formed to align with the existing railway and included modifications to the Overhead Lines, Signalling and Telecoms. The project also delivered the new railway i.e. track, overhead line, signalling, power and telecommunications over the new route.

Hitchin Grade Separation | CEEQUAL
Image: © Marcus Daws

Achievements

Collaborative working in a ‘Pure Alliance’

Part way through the tender process, the Client introduced the concept of awarding the Contract as a ‘Pure Alliance’. This involved Contractor and Client teams fully integrating, co-locating and working under a modified NR12 contract to reflect the alliancing ethos.

The Hitchin Alliance was formed using the BS11000 ‘collaborative business relationship management’ standard and principles. This was a ‘demonstration project’ for Network Rail, amongst the first of its kind, so the process was closely scrutinised by Network Rail executives, meaning by definition an open an honest approach was needed to succeed, which is a quality HOCHTIEF prides itself upon.

Headed by the Alliance Manager, the Alliance Integrated Project Organisation was designed to seek economy in resources by fully integrating team members from both parent companies and key suppliers. Team leaders from several disciplines formed the Alliance Leadership team. Their role was to take responsibility for identifying and managing change and risk, driving economy and innovation and ensuring that the project achieved or surpassed the key outputs. As the Alliance had ownership of the majority of project risks and opportunities there was a combined and committed desire to ensure that the process was robustly managed and that the Alliance achieved the maximum benefit.

One of the key outputs of a ‘Pure Alliance’ is to drive innovation through the whole project lifecycle. The Hitchin Project delivered GRIP stages 5-8, therefore innovations were targeted on detailed design and delivery. Value engineering and design workshops were initiated from the outset with designers, reviewers and approvers forming a single integrated team. This allowed the opportunities to be established, developed and determined efficiently. The mutual benefit from this ensured that all parties worked together to drive initiatives to a conclusion.

Hitchin Grade Separation | CEEQUALHitchin Grade Separation | CEEQUALHitchin Grade Separation | CEEQUAL
Image: © Network Rail

CEEQUAL insights and case studies

Browse the latest insights, thinking and case studies from CEEQUAL

 

Bulford Road Improvement Scheme | CEEQUAL

Bulford Road Improvement Scheme

The Bulford Road Improvement project was conceived and designed to provide significant improvements to a single lane road between the ...
Baltic Triangle Public Realm Improvements

Baltic Triangle Public Realm Improvements

The Baltic Triangle scheme was formulated to implement improvements to the public realm in the creative industries location of the ...
Balloo Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Centre, Bangor | CEEQUAL

Balloo Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Centre, Bangor

The Waste Transfer Station is a facility comprising 10,000m2 of machine, technology and administrative support space, which will swallow the ...
A479 Talgarth Relief Road and Bronllys Bypass

A479 Talgarth Relief Road and Bronllys Bypass

The CEEQUAL Award not only recognises the efforts taken to address landscape issues, but also work undertaken throughout all stages ...
A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Bypass | CEEQUAL

A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Bypass

The A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Bypass was a challenging public sector project, designed to divert traffic away from ...
Beragh Flood Alleviation Scheme | CEEQUAL

Beragh Flood Alleviation Scheme

In June 2014, Rivers Agency commenced construction of the £1.4 million flood alleviation scheme on the Cloughfin River in Beragh ...

Get in touch

Contact us now or call us on +443330147880 if you would like to talk to our team about how CEEQUAL can support you.

Tags