Case Study: Composites Offers a Fastbuild Track for Railway
A set of platforms at a busy Hampton Court station in London, England have received a new look with Strongwell products. Pipex px®, an international distributor of Strongwell products, helped the owner and operator of the United Kingdom’s rail infrastructure, Network Rail, revamp existing worn-beyond-repair concrete station platforms by supplying and fabricating a structural FRP deck over a timber glulam beam frame.
Strongwell’s SAFPLATE®, bonded to COMPOSOLITE®, along with EXTREN® angle, were chosen to replace the surface of approximately 312 feet of concrete platforms at the station. The SAFPLATE® provided a non-slip, gritted walkway while maintaining the aesthetic properties of the station. The state of the art installation also provided a gritted “bright white” edge and a tactile strip to aid visually impaired commuters. Additionally, panels were fitted to accommodate lighting posts which ran centrally through the station’s platform.
| TECHNICAL DATA |
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| Product: FRP Platforms |
| Process: Pultrusion |
Materials:
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| For: Pipex px® |
| User: Hampton Court Train Station London, England |
Supply, fabrication and installation of the platforms were all cost-effective and time-saving. The destruction of the old concrete platform and the installation of the new timber glulam deck with FRP surface went much easier and quicker than expected, according to installers. The successful and speedy installation reduced disruption for the high volume of travelers the station endures daily.
The platforms have a life expectancy of 60 years and were designed as a modular system that can be added to in the future. With such success, plans for similar renovations within the Network Rail line are currently underway.