Separation of high and low frequency train traffic in and around Geldermalsen

The Lingen Alliance has the project well underway

Under the name 'SpoorOmgeving Geldermalsen' (SOG), the project to separate high and low frequency, in and around Geldermalsen, was launched in early 2019. The implementation was awarded to Mobilis and Dura Vermeer, who together with client ProRail operate under the name 'The Lingen Alliance'. Their work: expanding the railway yard from two to four platforms and building a third track, called 'The Merwede-Lingelijn, which will run between Dordrecht and Geldermalsen. GWW Magazine talks about this with Peter Boonen, senior Superintendent at Mobilis, Principal Contractor at De Lingen Alliance.

Approximately 80% delivered in December

"Construction started in early 2019," Peter opens the conversation. "Five out-of-service periods are planned for the entire project. In the summer 2020 out-of-service period, the entire yard was converted in about 700 hours, in a six-week out-of-service period. Train operations were minimally disrupted during this period. From then on, the focus shifted to a seven-day out-of-service period, which took place last summer 2021. Meanwhile, the third track, the Merwede-Lingelijn, has been connected and put into service. So Geldermalsen now has three tracks from the north."

So now trains no longer have to use a switch, but instead travel on their own track towards Geldermalsen station. "Over the past year we have prepared the platforms for this expansion," Peter continues. "For example, the canopy above the platforms was prepared and a new passenger tunnel was commissioned at the station itself. The old pedestrian bridges have been removed. We expect to have completed some 80% by December 2021."

Split civil and rail works

Within the alliance, the tasks are well divided. TBI company Mobilis takes care of the civil side. This includes the extension of the railroad track, which has now been widened to include the third track, three underpasses have been built, a third railroad bridge has been built over the Linge River, the passenger tunnel under the station has been completed and the new platform roofs have been made. Dura Vermeer Rail is responsible for laying the track and the railroad cables and pipes. "Last summer a lot of track was removed and the tracks were prepared for decommissioning, to be put back into service last summer," Peter explains. "To enter the largest tunnel (the car and bike tunnel) a ramp was dug, the tunnel itself was built up in the neighboring pastures and taken to its destination via the peripheral road."

Balancing workload and working safely

Peter cites one of the biggest challenges as finding the balance between the workload (which is always high during out-of-service hours) and working safely, especially for the passengers. "Safety comes before everything else. But in order to still be able to meet the workload, you have to phase things cleverly. You also have to be able to work ahead, so that you still have room left over in the seven days of decommissioning. In that out-of-service period, we mainly did work that really could only be done during that time period."

"Working within an alliance is different," Peter emphasizes. "ProRail is also part of the designing party. Risks are shared, the purse strings are jointly managed. In the alliance, the challenge is to make the interests of the individual parties subordinate to those of the alliance. In this we have succeeded well." What will happen next, we ask. "Last summer the noise barriers were installed, now we can carry out our work outside the noise barriers without disturbing train traffic. Those works include the realization of the Nieuwsteeg underpass consisting of the construction of the ramps and stairways for the underpass. Furthermore, we will finish the station, mainly detail work. Think about installing tiling, LED light lines, ceilings and street work. Along the tracks, we will construct emergency paths, escape routes and fencing."

When most of the project is completed in December, Geldermalsen station will be future-proof. Thanks to smart planning, efficient work and good communication within the alliance, everyone can look back with satisfaction on a project that caused as little disruption as possible.