“Orange Army” of engineers behind Dawlish repairs top engineering Oscars
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The team of engineers who worked 24/7 to reopen the Dawlish rail link following the severe weather at the start of 2014, have been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal at the 2014 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Awards today.
The Brunel Medal, named after civil engineering great Isambard Kingdom Brunel, recognises individuals or teams who have shown excellence in civil engineering. Fittingly, this year it goes to a team who repaired part of a railway Brunel himself designed.
The ICE Awards Committee said the Dawlish Sea Wall Emergency Works demonstrated a “shining example of civil engineers doing what they do best - teamwork, inventiveness, innovation, quick thinking and sheer determination.”
Opened in 1846, the South Devon Railway is the only rail connection from the Westcountry to the rest of the UK. It is accustomed to extreme weather conditions, however, the severity of the storms in February 2014 caused chaos, cutting the west of the region off by rail. Between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth 4.5 miles of railway infrastructure was severely damaged, including a 100 metre breach to the Dawlish Sea Wall.
On 6 February, less than 48 hours after the first call, a joint team comprising Network Rail, BAM, AMCO, Dyer & Butler, Sisk and Tony Gee & Partners had assembled to plan the repairs, however on 14 February another storm struck battering the 10-tonne shipping containers which were being used as a temporary breakwater. Works came to a halt and the damage caused a 20% increase to the overall project scope.
Through late February and March, the team worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to repair and reinstate the line, but in early March they faced a further challenge - 25,000 tonnes of material had sheared away from the cliff face and onto the track near Teignmouth. A controlled landslip was created using several high pressure water cannons, turning the red earth into slurry to run off into the sea, whilst minimising damage to the infrastructure below.
Works continued 24/7 with an average of 300 people each day and 150 each night working tirelessly to re-open the line. Eight weeks on from the first storm, after battling high waves, rain, gales and a further landslip - the rail link to South and West Devon and Cornwall re-opened on 4 April.
Prime Minister, David Cameron, praised the “orange army” of engineers as they have become known, for their "herculean effort" in completing the repairs.
Tim Broyd, Chair of ICE’s Awards Committee and ICE Vice President, said: “If any project is worthy of the Brunel Medal, it is this. Considering the extent of the damage and the relentless conditions the engineers were faced with, it is quite extraordinary that they were able to get the track up and running before Easter - two weeks ahead of schedule – to avoid further damage to the regional economy.
“The teamwork, inventiveness and sheer determination were inspiring – a shining example of civil engineers doing what they do best. I have no doubt that if Brunel was with us today he would be extremely proud - congratulations to all involved.”
Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail said: “It seems fitting that the Dawlish team should be awarded the Brunel Medal for like him they have shown great vision and ingenuity, ably overcoming every challenge and obstacle that has been sent their way. Our work is not yet done and the team continues to repair and improve the resilience of the network in the Dawlish area. I congratulate each and every one of them for this well-deserved award.”