Working safely along the tracks

The A1 section between Apeldoorn and Twello crosses the Zutphen - Apeldoorn railroad line. The road widening therefore also affects the flyover railroad crossing that is currently being widened. As a regular subcontractor to Heijmans, UR Consultant is ensuring railroad safety during the work for both the executing personnel and the passing train traffic. 

The A1 crosses a single-track section above via a structure, Dennis Kloes, work planner at UR Consultant, outlines the existing situation. "Because the A1 is being widened with additional lanes, the engineering structure is also being widened. Since this work is taking place in the vicinity of the railroad, additional measures are required. Not only to ensure the safety of the construction personnel, but also to ensure the safety of passing train traffic. You don't want construction material spilling onto the tracks, to give just one example."

Railroad Safety

UR Consultant has been involved in the A1 from the very beginning to support Heijmans with rail safety. "It ranges from drawing up the health and safety plan to requesting and taking part in out-of-service activities, maintaining contacts between all stakeholders and monitoring the agreed measures through workplace inspections," Dennis explains. "Together we consider which work can be carried out during train runs and for which an out-of-service period is necessary. There has already been one major two-week shutdown, during which, among other things, the sheet pile walls were installed. Another 16-hour out-of-service period will follow in mid-April this year. In addition, we are also making use of third-party field trips, known as free-riding operations."

Physical shielding

Because the number of out-of-service hours is limited and some of the work takes place in the immediate vicinity of the track, the decision was made to install a physical barrier parallel to the track in the form of a man-made fence. "The fencing was installed by our subsidiary Infra Solution in full compliance with ProRail regulations. It provides such shielding that executive personnel can work safely right next to the danger zone, of course in compliance with the safety instructions, which we from UR Consultant also prepare." And so UR Consultant supports Heijmans in every possible way in creating a safe workplace along the track. "We do that with a total of over sixty employees for various clients throughout the country. Even after office hours. We are a 24/7 company and offer support in case of a breakdown or calamity, so that mechanics or emergency services can work safely on or along the track."