NIR release tender for Eglinton - Castlerock improvements

The Coleraine to Londonderry railway line is situated in the North-western region of Northern Ireland. It is a rural line, which for long stretches closely follows the coast line. It is proposed to construct Continuously Welded Rail on an 18.5 mile long section of this route this route from the 69.5Mile Post to the 88 Mile Post. The works involves re-railing the track and converting it from jointed track to Continuously Welded Rail (CWR). New 113Alb/yd (also known as CEN56 Rail) rails will be welded to form the CWR. Ancillary items, such as pads and insulators will be renewed. Existing clips will be re-used where they are found to be serviceable. Ballast will be topped up where necessary. In some areas ballast retention measures will be constructed. Trackside drainage repairs will be carried out. Wet spot areas between sleeper beds will be dug out and reinstated.
The Signalling and Telecomms system on this route is a Token Block System. Signalling & Telecomms works will typically be disconnections and reconnections which will be carried out by the Economic Operator.
There are 34 public and private road crossings in the proposed work area. The surfaces of these will be removed to allow the works to progress through and must then re-instated.
On completion of the works, the track will be fit for 70mph running between Castlerock and Eglinton.
The site works will take place largely during overnight engineering possessions. The possessions will be available seven nights per week.
The aim of this tender exercise is to appoint a suitably qualified Economic Operator in February 2012. The Economic Operator is expected to commence work in Spring 2012 and to have the re-railing work completed by Autumn / Winter 2012. A follow-up Maintenance Tamp of the re-railed section will take place in 2013.