PENICUIK TO EDINBURGH RAILWAY DESIGN

2017/18

On this exciting project, we were mentored by engineers from ATKINS. Structural and Civil engineering students took part in this assignment. The aim of the project was to carry out a feasibility study for a potential rail line that runs from the town of Penicuik to Edinburgh Waverley Station using the GRIP style approach. This was a very insightful project as it required us to consider not only the structural necessities required for an enterprise such as this but in addition the environmental implications and issues to do with all the different stakeholders that may be affected.

The feasibility study was split into two GRIP stages, GRIP 2 and GRIP 3. At the GRIP 2 stage, research was performed to establish a wide range of possible train line routes. For each route, constraints were explored that might hinder its development. There was a wide range of environmental constraints to examine such as SSSIs, protected parks, and green lands. Other main constraints considered were locations of utilities, structures needed, geotechnical issues such as locations of mine shafts, and listed buildings. The role I took in this GRIP 2 analysis was researching into geotechnical issues that may be faced on each route. In addition, I looked into listed buildings and planned developments within the catchment area of my group's proposed rail routes. I also, alongside the other structural engineer in my group, analysed all the areas on each rail line option that required a structure. This was to work out which routes required the most structures and therefore the most labour and money invested in this department.

All the research performed at the GRIP 2 stage was to narrow down the route options to three potential routes that would then be further assessed in GRIP 3. Ten routes were analysed in GRIP 2. The three routes taken forward were the ones with the least problematic constraints. These routes were selected through a scoring system that took into account all the constraints along each route and cost. GRIP 3 was really all about problem-solving. At this stage, the constraints of each route were fully detailed out along with solutions. Some of the main factors that GRIP 3 specifies for each route are the structures required, road realignments, Vertical alignment, stations required, drainage, and train timetables. GRIP 3 also has a full detailed costing of each route based on Spon's Railways Construction prices. 

This feasibility study was the biggest and most exciting project that I worked on in my five years of study. This was mainly because it broadened my understand of all the different factors an engineering project has to consider. It is not just about the math and physics behind the design of infrastructures that need to be taken into account. Equal consideration needs to be given to factors such as the project's impact on the environment, stakeholders, future development, as well as impact on community image on a physical and social level. It was also fantastic to get insight from ATKINS and get experience in how to produce professionally written GRIP style reports. Getting a taste of the work quality level required in the industry from a highly credible firm was very educational.