Arcow Quarry was a £2.5 million scheme to once again connect Tarmac’s quarry near Horton-in-Ribblesdale with national rail network. Story Contracting provided the design and implementation of the track and civils works.
Work commenced on site in July 2015. The project required a significant earthworks solution – the previous sidings formation was deemed unsuitable for modern requirements, particularly with regard to the curvature of the approach track. A new scheme was needed to connect Tarmac’s Quarry with the rail network, about 400 yards north of the old connection.
The solution consisted of the construction of a 640m new embankment, 300m of precurved track, 3 new sidings, installation of a refurbished footbridge and installation of new walkways.
The scope of the project included the following works:
Working closely with the designer allowed Story to liaise directly with Tarmac to design a solution that utilised the material quarried on site to construct the new embankment, backfill material to the loading ramp and cladding to the footbridge. This hugely assisted both the cost of the scheme but also the sheer logistics in avoiding importing thousands of tonnes of material.
There were some key constraints to overcome during the project but Story were able to resolve these issues by working with Bowland Ecology and the National Parks planning team. This allowed us to continue hitting milestones throughout the programme and deliver the project to a high standard.
A refurbished lattice footbridge was also installed onto stone-faced abutments and now provides an excellent vantage point from which to view the sidings.
The project progressed from planning stage to completion in little over a year, with the project timeline geared to a critical 78-hour line closure between 23rd – 27th October and vital preparatory works completed one week ahead of schedule.
GB Railfreight hauled the first trainload of road stone out of Arcow quarry in fifty years on 26th January 2016.
Story Contracting’s performance delivering this complex and comprehensive project has been exemplary. Despite demanding timescales and engineering challenges, a spectacular achievement has been realised in only 14 months due to their hard work and collaborative spirit.
Network Rail
The project involved regrading approximately 280 metres of the embankment to enhance structural stability and improve rail safety.