Request for Information - Low Disruption Tunnel Renewals

Descriptions

Network Rail manages 693 Tunnels that are typically 150 years old. They are built through different geologies and require different but increasing levels of maintenance and renewal. As the growth of railway traffic continues, access for maintenance and renewal reduces. To counter this trend, Network Rail are looking for innovative ways to form new tunnels. Also, to enlarge or renew significant elements of existing tunnels. The key requirement is to achieve this with minimal blockades where all traffic movements through the tunnel are stopped. At present, new tunnels are formed using large plant such as tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and other renewals use track-mounted plant. All require a significant duration of time where the railway is closed. As the existing tunnel portfolio continues to degrade, these interventions are more probable, causing disruption to our passengers. The aspiration is to find new ways of renewing our tunnels to reduce this impact to our passengers.