Hope develops concrete for rail upgrade

Hope Construction Materials, a concrete supplier for the UK, has recently introduced a high-performance concrete specifically for railways. This concrete will be used as part of a track-laying system between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Hope concrete used on Scotland’s busiest passenger route

Hope was contracted to develop the concrete mix for rapid track replacement work in the 330 m long Winchburgh Tunnel, located on the mainline track that runs between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The floor of the tunnel had to be lowered to accommodate overhead cables.

Hope created HOPEFlow^® Rail, a high-performance, self-compacting concrete that has the properties required for fixing the Slab Track Austria system, used along the rail line, into place.

This is the first application of HOPEFlow Rail product, which uses a blend of selected aggregates, cement and specialist admixtures.  

Benefits of Edinburgh to Glasgow improvement programme

The programme is expected to benefit communities along the route, stimulating growth and investment. For passengers, the project is expected to reduce journey times, increase efficiency due to larger and more frequent trains, and carry 30% more passengers between the two main cities.

Ensuring it was strong, free-flowing and had a sufficient working time

David Morrow, Hope’s Business Manager for Scotland, said: “When we were tasked with this challenge we were determined to make it work, and bring another innovation to the sector by developing this high-performance and first-of-its-kind product.”

He added: “When designing HOPEFlow Rail we took into consideration all of the attributes needed for the concrete, ensuring it was strong, free-flowing and had a sufficient working time."

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/05082015/hope-develops-concrete-for-rail-upgrade-270/