Cholsey Station, Platform 2
Client: Network Rail, with GWR
Project Overview
Cholsey Station, Platform 2
1,500 sandbags
Service: Reactive
Sector: Rail
- Approved Contractor: MLG UK Ltd
- Client: Network Rail, with GWR
- Duration: Four consecutive nights
- Work Carried Out: Emergency structural stabilisation, temporary works design, night-shift delivery under line blocks
Scope of Work
Emergency repair and stabilisation of Platform 2 at Cholsey Station. A routine five-year Network Rail inspection identified significant deterioration in the main steel trestles supporting the platform, extensive section loss, with an imminent risk of collapse that threatened both the platform and the continued operation of the line into London.
- Emergency repair and design strategy formulated at short notice
- Emergency line blocks secured to allow safe working
- 1,500 sandbags installed beneath the platform across four consecutive nights to provide immediate structural support
- Train operations rerouted to create an access window with minimal disruption to passenger services
Systems installed
- Temporary support: 1,500 sandbags installed beneath the platform
Challenges & Constraints
Imminent risk of collapse
A routine five-year Network Rail inspection found extensive section loss in the main steel trestles supporting Platform 2, with an imminent risk of collapse that threatened the platform and the operation of the line into London.
No platform-level access
There was no access at platform level, so every material and every operative had to come through a subway and up a flight of stairs.
Propping was the danger
Traditional propping was the obvious answer and the dangerous one: the ballast gap and the advanced deterioration meant setting props up carried a high risk of triggering the collapse it was meant to prevent.
Project Execution & Techniques
Propping ruled out
Propping was assessed and rejected on engineering grounds rather than attempted.
Sandbags instead of props
1,500 sandbags were installed beneath the platform across four consecutive nights under emergency line blocks, giving immediate structural support without imposing point loads on a structure that could not take them.
Strategy agreed together
MLG, Network Rail, GWR and the planning teams worked out an emergency repair and design strategy at short notice that was practical and achievable inside the constraints.
Own labour mobilised
Skilled labour was needed immediately and was mobilised from MLG’s own internal teams for rapid deployment.
Outcome & Long-Term Benefits
Collapse prevented
Platform collapse was prevented and the immediate risk to both the infrastructure and passengers eliminated.
Railway stayed open
The line into London continued to operate, with no closure at any point.
Minimal passenger disruption
Train operations were rerouted to create the access window, with minimal disruption to passenger services.
Four nights from decision
An emergency design strategy formulated at short notice was delivered across four consecutive nights under emergency line blocks.
Conclusion
A five-year inspection found the steel trestles under Platform 2 at Cholsey had lost so much section that collapse was imminent, on a platform serving the line into London. The obvious remedy, propping, was the dangerous one: the ballast gap and the state of the steel meant setting props up risked causing the collapse it was meant to prevent.
MLG, Network Rail and GWR worked out an alternative at short notice: 1,500 sandbags placed beneath the platform across four consecutive nights under emergency line blocks, carried in through a subway and up a flight of stairs because there was no platform-level access. Collapse was prevented and the railway never closed.
Ready to start your project?
Contact MLG UK today.
