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Core Valley Lines
Case Study
Overview
Client:
Balfour Beatty
Value:
£5m
Completion:
2024
Works:
Telecoms
Project
Overview
The Core Valley Lines (CVL) Transformation is a crucial part of the South Wales Metro project, led by Transport for Wales (TfW). This major initiative aims to enhance and renew existing infrastructure across south Wales, improving connectivity and making sustainable travel more accessible for 1.5million people.
The ultimate goal is to establish a metro-style rail network for the Cardiff region, featuring two new train fleets, faster journey times, and four trains per hour to every CVL valley head. The upgrades will also enhance station facilities and reduce carbon emissions.
Our role in the project focused on upgrading the telecommunications, signalling, and electrical power (E&P) infrastructure throughout the Cardiff and Valleys region.
Scope of Works
Motion was pivotal in managing the installation and commissioning of a new fibre optic network, which supports a new IP/MPLS transmission system and incorporates spider web ribbon fibre – a cutting-edge product in railway applications. Notably this project marked the first commercial deployment of 432 spider web ribbon on the railway in the UK. Motion now serve as the networks maintainer for both TFW and TFW Ffeibr, maintaining and installing both the cable network and the new connectivity of commercial customers
The project was structured into two main phases, A and B, involving the installation of:
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150km of backbone Cable
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74 Spliced Joints
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24 Spliceless Joints
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5 External ODF
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26 Internal ODF
Gallery
'Engineering our Future'
Challenging Standards for High volume Ribbon Fibre Installation
CHALLENGE: Phase A identified that deploying ribbon fibre in rail infrastructure presented unique challenges as existing standards did not fully accommodate its unique requirements.
SOLUTION: Motion developed a ‘gold standard’ work instruction to regulate ribbon fibre installations, accepted by the client and being reviewed for industry standard use, this includes:
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Clear guidelines and specifications tailored to the unique characteristics of ribbon fibre, setting a quality benchmark, and ensuring consistency and reliability across all installations, preventing deviances and variations.
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Value engineering principles, optimising project value by improving functionality, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality outcomes. The new standard also streamlines training and reduces the learning curve for workers, boosting overall project efficiency.
Bridging the Skills Gap for Ribbon Fibre Installation
CHALLENGE: The introduction of 432 spider web ribbon to the industry posed a significant challenge due to a lack of skilled workforce for its installation. With the uniqueness of spider web ribbon, it became evident that jointers would need familiarisation training to master the nuances and intricacies of the specialist fibre.
SOLUTION: A comprehensive approach combining targeted training and integration of external cross industry expertise was implemented:
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Training Existing Workforce: Experienced rail jointers underwent product familiarisation training provided by cable and joint manufacturers, including dedicated practice time. This training equipped them with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle ribbon fibre effectively.
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Utilising External Expertise: Engineers from the offshore windfarm industry, who had extensive experience with ribbon fibre, were brought in. Motion upsilled these engineers with Personal Track Safety (PTS) training, enabling them to safely work trackside in the rail environment.
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The Future of Motion: we invested in 2 apprentices that were dedicated to the project during construction to become its future maintenance engineers. With this project making the first commercial deployment of sider web ribbon, Motion has a uniquely skilled workforce ready for future installations and maintenance of 432f in the railway sector.
Adding Value
Motion recognises the significant skills gap within the industry and remains committed to developing a sustainable workforce. Given the unique application of this fibre in the rail industry and the necessity to rewrite standards, it is crucial that we leave a legacy of skills and technical expertise. We are targeting this objective throughout CP7 and will continue into CP8 to close the skills gap during that period. The invaluable lessons learned from this project are already shaping a new strategy for CP7 and are bringing immediate value to new initiatives, such as Project Reach. Motion is dedicated to growing and developing our uniquely skilled workforce to provide our customers with a future-ready maintenance support.