Earthworks Stabilisation - Request for Information

Network Rail has experienced problems with maintaining track quality on embankments located on soft foundations, in particular those associated with the fens in East Anglia. It is believed that the movements are due to a combination of: • settlement due to compaction of the underlying soft ground, • outwards movement of the soft ground due to the loading of the embankment, and • peat wastage caused by oxidation. To reduce the costs associated with maintenance of the track in these areas, Network Rail is keen to identify suitable approaches to confirm the significant mechanisms for the degradation and to reduce their impact. Any intervention approach needs to meet the following criteria: • The solution needs to be suitable to install on an operational railway corridor with minimal disruption to the operation of the railway • The solution should have an acceptable environmental footprint, with particular regard to the sensitive environment of the Anglian fens and the importance of this environment for the storage of carbon • The solution needs to be capable of achieving a reasonable and quantifiable design life, ideally of at least 60 years.