RamWall – Pitsea Station Improvements

Project: Pitsea Station Improvements

Owner: Network Rail

Designer: Pell Frischmann / OTB Engineering Ltd.

Contractor: J Murphy & Sons Ltd.

Purpose: Retaining walls adjacent to and below a new footbridge

RamWall type: 8m diameter 200mm x 200mm galvanised RAMWALL mesh plus 5mm
diameter, 50mm x 50mm galvanised facing mesh, 25mm rebar spikes

RamWall Fill: Railway ballast

Date: July 2011

Improvements to Pitsea railway station required theconstruction of a new footbridge which was installed by cutting into an existing slope alongside the platform to provide sufficient space for the installation of its foundations and stairway. The design called for the stabilisation of the cut slopes using conventional gabion baskets but these quickly proved unsuitable owing to the complexity of the geometries of the walls, the highly restricted space and the need to provide a high quality, secure finish in areas accessed by the public. Since construction was already underway the design had to be rapidly adapted from gabions to a RAMWALL solution. ISS personnel provided on-site training to contractor’s staff and supervised the completion of the walls to the high standard of finish required. This enabled the station to be returned to full operation within the allocated contract period.