Two further Network Rail Star awards

Two further Network Rail Star awards

Our rail teams have won a further two Network Rail star awards for their work on Crossrail Anglia sub-station projects.

Crossrail’s senior construction manager assessed the Gidea Park and Shenfield sites on 27 June. At each of the sites, VGC is building a substation, with works including

  • site investigation, demolition and site clearance
  • excavation and construction of reinforced concrete foundations and footings
  • drainage works including pipework, chambers and soakaways
  • roads and walkways
  • protective boundary fencing, vehicle barriers and access gates
  • cable troughing and cable route ancillaries
  • retaining walls and staircases, including temporary works design.

Our contracts with client Balfour Beatty are part of Balfour Beatty’s traction power project.

Over 90 per cent rating

Shenfield – Clive Smith (L) (VGC project manager) and Leon Dansey (Balfour Beatty site supervisor)
Shenfield – Clive Smith (L) (VGC project manager) and Leon Dansey (Balfour Beatty site supervisor)

The Shenfield sectioning auto-transformer site (SATS) achieved 93.06% with notes on good awareness of risks and controls, suitable site documentation and a well managed fenced exclusion zone for the piling works. The assessor particularly complimented a machine operator on work-safe awareness.

Our Gidea Park team MPATS (mid point auto transformer site) did even better, with 95.83%. The assessment noted that the site was “very well laid out and managed with appropriate segregated storage and waste areas. All excavations had been fenced and all previous debris removed from site.” Other good practices were “evident pride taken in the site and operatives clearing as they go” and “well managed vehicle marshalling and plant exclusion zones”.

Balfour Beatty’s unit director said: “Great news guys, well done”. And Balfour Beatty’s rail traction manager said “Particular thanks and congrats to Leon, Muzz, Clive, Carlos and all of the site operatives for not only their engagement on the day, but ongoing commitment and drive on both sites for safety and programme.”

Jacques Kriel, VGC rail projects director, thanked the teams: “Well done to contracts manager Mike Condon, sub agent Carlos Allca (Gidea Park) and project manager Clive Smith (Shenfield) – and thank you to the HSQE team for their support. Their achievements are even more impressive, because the sites have been stretched with people on summer holidays. However, they are still managing to perform well above average.

“I’m also grateful to sub-contractor Ryan Groundworks.”

Gidea Park (L to R) Stuart Musgrove (Balfour Beatty site supervisor), Ron Turnage (VGC site manager) and Carlos Allca (VGC sub agent)
Gidea Park (L to R) – Stuart Musgrove (Balfour Beatty site supervisor), Ron Turnage (VGC site manager) and Carlos Allca (VGC sub agent)

These two stars add to the three stars already achieved for work with client Costain:

  • In July 2016 Rob Barnard’s team won the highest mark awarded in any inspection across the whole of Crossrail during 2016
  • Rob Barnard’s team won a third star jointly with Costain in 2017, also for works on the north-east spur of Crossrail Anglia.

About the Network Rail star programme

Network Rail’s star award programme recognises sites, work groups or compounds that have high levels of health, safety and environmental risk control. A site must gain at least 90% to achieve a star award. The assessments cover:

  • supervision and management
  • sustainability (environment and public consideration)
  • safety
  • site specific items.