26 March 2014

A major supplier to the Costain Skanska joint venture (JV) delivering the Crossrail Paddington station, L Lynch Plant Hire, has been rewarded with the 'Best Small Project Award (under £3 million)’ at the inaugural UK Rail Industry Awards, for the successful set up and operation of the Willesden rail hub.

The rail hub allows excavated material from construction/engineering projects across London to be transferred onto the railway and transported to suitable receiving locations. The Costain Skanska JV is utilising the rail hub to transfer material from the Crossrail Paddington station project to its destination at Wallasea Island, in Essex. Wallasea Island will become a nature reserve when works are complete.

The rail hub allows the Costain Skanska JV to eliminate 14,000 lorry journeys through Central London, helping to increase road safety for cyclists and pedestrians on the Capital's streets. The rail hub also reduces the total distance travelled by lorries carrying excavated material from the Paddington project by 250,000 miles.

Sam Reed, engineer responsible for the excavation and propping of the station box at Paddington for the Costain Skanska JV, said: "Lynch has shown fantastic vision in setting up the rail hub at Willesden. They continue to deliver an excellent service which helps us to meet our construction program whilst minimising the impact of our project on the environment and the people of London. They thoroughly deserve the award."

 

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