The Government has given the green light to a £32 billion high speed rail link across the UK and powered access platforms will be pivotal in both the construction and maintenance of the new line.
The first phase of the project will be between London and Birmingham and it will eventually extend to Manchester and Leeds. It will be operational by 2026 and will slash journey times between the UK’s major cities.
Road Rail access platforms are used for a wide range of essential jobs at height on the national railways including:
- Repairing and installing signals and posts
- Structural inspections of bridges, stations and embankments
- Clearing verges and embankments of vegetation and debris
- Work on power lines
Jobs that overrun on the railways can be expensive as they have a knock on effect on services and commuters so safe, rapid access to all sections of the track is vital. Road rail access platforms are specially adapted to run on both infrastructures, providing a flexible solution so jobs can be reached and completed quickly, safely and with minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
Having the duel ability to operate on road and rail tracks does not reduce the speed or functionality of the equipment. It is easy to switch from one operation mode to the other and it saves money as well as time by reducing the need to hire locomotive plant or attempt access through protected or remote areas of countryside.
Newer models are more robust and efficient than ever before. First supplied to the UK in 2003, the most recent Basket RR14 road rail access platforms are third and fourth rail compliant with more than 30 improved features to tackle complicated tasks in different locations. These include a 300kg capacity cage; easy to use intuitive control system; automatic self-levelling abilities; heavy duty rail gears with auto disc brakes on all rail wheels; and four wheel drive.
Many locations along the route of the proposed high speed rail track will be hard to reach and there are limits to the usefulness of trucks and tractors for a number of essential construction and maintenance jobs at height. Road rail powered access platforms are a flexible, cost effective and safe solution that will enable crews to access difficult places and carry out challenging jobs, quickly and safely.