Major renewal works have been successfully completed on the River Trent viaduct during a carefully planned 126-hour railway closure.
Delivered by Story Contracting on behalf of Network Rail, with support from Story Plant and Story Track, the upgrade strengthens the structure, extends its lifespan, and safeguards reliable journeys for passengers.
Key works included:
- Installing a reinforced concrete slab with precast ‘L’ units along both parapets to reduce water ingress
- Adding a waterproofing system and new drainage to better manage surface water
- Repairing defective brickwork throughout the structure
- Fitting a compliant viaduct guardrail system to enhance safety standards
- Reconfigured overhead line equipment (OLE) and replaced gantries to keep power safely flowing to trains
The project was completed on time, incident-free, and with safety at the forefront of every stage.
Jim Lewis, Head of Operations (Central) at Story Contracting, said: “This project is a fantastic example of teamwork and collaboration, both across our Story teams and with Network Rail. By working together and maintaining a clear focus on safety and planning, we were able to deliver the works efficiently within the blockade while keeping disruption to passengers to an absolute minimum.”
Andy Johnson, Project Manager at Network Rail, added: “The successful delivery of the River Trent viaduct works demonstrates the value of close collaboration with our delivery partners. These upgrades will help maintain a safe and reliable railway for years to come.”
