Excalibur banks a successful project
Dragados utilises Excalibur Screwbolts for the Bank Station capacity upgrade project with London Underground
Design and build contractor Dragados were awarded the high-profile construction contract for Bank Station. Initially, London Underground and Dragados developed a plan that provided improved access for passengers and reduction in congestion. Key objectives of the project included meeting the demand of the public by increasing the station capacity, decreasing crowding, improving the quality of access, interchange, ambience and supporting the city’s economic growth.
Excalibur Screwbolts Ltd is an approved supplier to London Underground Limited; with their range of screwbolts being approved products for use on the infrastructure. To that end, the company’s Hexagon Head Screwbolts (HSB) 12mmx150mm were integral to the installation of the conductor rail system as part of the new track installation on the project at Bank Station. This three-year project was recently completed successfully; it incorporated a new running tunnel and southbound platform to increase the circulation space at the station and to facilitate improved access between the multiple lines that converge at the Bank Station complex.
Richard Jones was a Track Engineer for the project and worked with Dragados as part of the design of a conductor rail system. This incorporated the Excalibur Screwbolts, which were used to secure conductor rail insulators to concrete slab. Excalibur Screwbolts (HSB) 12mmx150mm were specified as part of the design and some 2,500 individual bolts were deployed over a 3-week period. Operatives utilised battery impact wrenches (aka battery impactors) and Dragados appreciated this was a quicker and more efficient process than drilling and using chemical anchors.
Commenting on Excalibur Screwbolts, Richard said “Excalibur Screwbolts are easy to install and very good quality. We recognised that using Excalibur Screwbolts removed the Health & Safety risks associated with alternative methods, i.e., perhaps having to cut rebar and use a chemical anchor. We also appreciated that Excalibur’s manufacturing process is more environmentally friendly, with a reduced carbon footprint as the bolts are manufactured in UK. I know these are factors favourably considered by London Underground. I’d like to give special praise to Excalibur’s Director John Stevens, who was very helpful and professional, in addition, their customer services are excellent, well organised with technical support on hand to offer expert guidance.”
All about Bank Station
Transport for London (TfL) subsidiary - London Underground - is reconstructing the city’s Bank tube station to substantially upgrade the station capacity and enable it to handle 40% more passengers.
The £600m project involves the construction of a new tunnel, platforms, station entrance, escalators, ticket halls and passenger lifts. Construction began in 2016 and is about to be completed.
The tunnelling work for the project was completed in October 2020, with more than 200,000t of material excavated in the City of London.
The station currently serves approximately 98 million passengers a year.
Built in 1900 in King William street, the Bank Station is the fourth busiest underground interchange station. It is served by the Central, Northern, Waterloo and City lines. The station is a key gateway into London and one of the world’s most complicated subterranean railway stations.
It features three ticket halls, six lifts, ten platforms and two 300ft moving walkways.
