idea project workshop

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IDEA Workshop Oxford
5th - 6th April 2016
Improving Damage assessment to
Enhance cost-benefit Analyses
Damage to Infrastructures
Dr Patric Mak
Safety, Technical & Engineering, Network Rail
IDEA Workshop 2016
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Following
reclassification as an
arm’s-length central
government body in
2014, we retain the
commercial and
operational freedom to
manage Britain’s
railway infrastructure
within regulatory and
control frameworks.

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Network Rail Overview
IDEA Workshop 2016
In 2002 Network Rail took over as owner and operator of Britain’s railway infrastructure.
Our mandate from government was to improve safety, reliability, efficiency and
punctuality on the network.
► each weekday we carry 4m passengers on our network - last year there were 1.27bn
separate journeys and 100 million tonnes of freight was transported by rail between
ports, factories and shops
► we spend £1.84m every day operating, maintaining and renewing the railway
► we're one of the country's largest property owners with 8,200 commercial properties
generating £1.3bn between 2009-14, all of which goes to improve the railway
Over the past 20 years passenger numbers have doubled. This is why Network Rail
is now carrying out the biggest railway investment programme since the Victorian era.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk
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Why understanding environmental risk is
important to railway infrastructure?
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As infrastructure manager of the national railway:
► We know what impact the environment has on the safety and reliability of
the infrastructure and punctuality of journeys
► We want to share and develop knowledge with industry and academia to
reduce infrastructure damage and to improve infrastructure resilience
► We need to champion innovation so that we can effectively respond to the
challenge of climate change

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Priority Hazards
IDEA Workshop 2016
Flooding of the infrastructure
Wind damage due to vegetation around the railway
Landslips due to extreme rainfall and freeze thaw
Coastal erosion and scour of structures
Effect of drought on track bed stability
Electrical failure due to heat, rain and flood
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Cowley Bridge Junction flooding
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Source: Google Map

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Cowley Bridge Junction flooding

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The West Coast Main Line (north of Carlisle)
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www.telegraph.co.uk-
www.bbc.co.uk
www.itv.com-
www.networkrail.co.uk
18-month project to repair Dawlish’s railway line rebuild and strengthen the sea wall
5th February 2014
Repair cost of £35 million

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High Priority Research Topics
IDEA Workshop 2016
How can we adapt the legacy railway so that it is resilient to long-term flooding?
What innovative low maintenance drainage solutions are available to manage water
around the railway?
Visions for an integrated transport system that is resilient to long-term flood and
continues to serve rural and coastal communities
Can we develop a national flood risk assessment tool so that infrastructure
managers can collaborate and develop joined up flood resilience schemes?
Can we improve how we build earthworks and the track bed so these are more
stable to extreme rainfall and heat that we expect to see in the future?
A modular building design for electrical equipment that performs in extreme weather
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Thanks
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