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Introduction

Following the derailment of a passenger train at Stonehaven in August 2020, awareness was raised about both the management of Earthworks and Drainage assets during extreme weather events and the need for a more resilient railway to resist the effects of future climate change.

This project builds on previous phases of work demonstrating the application of the AtkinsRéalis Washout Vulnerability Assessment (WVA) tool, which enables a rapid, desk-based, and cost-effective method to assess the risk of washout failures. The WVA tool is a new technical advancement that uses readily and freely available LIDAR data.

Challenges

The potential for failures of earthwork and drainage assets during extreme and adverse weather events is currently managed using mitigations on normal railway operations such as the imposition of Blanket Emergency Speed Restrictions (BESRs) that are imposed over sections of railway that are likely to be affected by such events. Current tools available to Network Rail are limited to accurately predict the effects that extreme weather may have on the performance and resilience of their earthwork and drainage assets. Applying operational mitigations during adverse or extreme weather has led to a loss of both performance and transference of system risk. Network Rail therefore proposed a trial study to assess a methodology to determine drainage capacity and earthwork resilience for different rainfall intensities to better inform railway risk management during adverse and extreme weather.

Solutions

The potential for failures of earthwork and drainage assets during extreme and adverse weather events is currently managed using mitigations on normal railway operations such as the imposition of Blanket Emergency Speed Restrictions (BESRs) that are imposed over sections of railway that are likely to be affected by such events. Current tools available to Network Rail are limited to accurately predict the effects that extreme weather may have on the performance and resilience of their earthwork and drainage assets. Applying operational mitigations during adverse or extreme weather has led to a loss of both performance and transference of system risk. Network Rail therefore proposed a trial study to assess a methodology to determine drainage capacity and earthwork resilience for different rainfall intensities to better inform railway risk management during adverse and extreme weather.

Results

Utilising the results from the drainage models, AtkinsRéalis developed a novel assessment methodology, expanding on our existing WVA tool, to quantify risk of earthwork washout failure in the event of drainage system blockage/failure or undercapacity. The results of these assessments are informative in understanding where significant washout risks are likely to occur within the study areas, and how this may change as a result of future climate change.



The methodology, and outputs, developed as part of this work support the development of the regional climate change adaptation pathways, as detailed in regional Weather Resilience & Climate Change Adaptation Plans. By successfully identifying sections of the rail network at highest risk from extreme weather and climate change, this will allow for decisions makers to plan for, prioritise and stagger investment decisions in adaptation solutions.

Innovative technology is essential in our mission to build a more resilient railway so we can target investments and interventions more effectively. While we can't completely 'weatherproof' our network, digital solutions like the Washout tool can support our goal of keeping passengers and freight moving safely.

Martin Frobisher
Network Rail Director - Safety and Engineering

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