Cost of track-miles

[59CosG95]

Hi All

I'm doing a project at uni at the moment for which I need to know the cost of track-miles. Do you know how much it costs to lay each different type of track?

 

[civ-eng-jim]

Many many variables to play with, but say the track bed is prepared plain-line ballasted track is about £1000 per metre installed.

A turnout is £250k (for a 25mph T/O) up to £700k (for a a 75mph) There are higher speed turnouts but they're pretty rare on the UK network.

Crossovers are double that.

Double junctions range from £700k (CV) to £1.8M (GV)

 

[Bald Rick]

Add a bit to those S&C costs for the signalling and electrification. (Like double)

 

[59CosG95]

Double junctions range from £700k (CV) to £1.8M (GV)

CV and GV? Not familiar with those. What exactly do they mean?

 

[Ships]

Plain line is around £900 per m for like for like (ie g44 sleepers, cen60 rail and new ballast). Steel sleeper relays are cheaper again

 

[civ-eng-jim]

CV and GV? Not familiar with those. What exactly do they mean?

Sorry - They're different vertical switch types with increasingly flatter radii for higher speeds. Generally from A up to G but special types are available (H, J, K et cetera). Without opening a can of worms, there are inclined rail S&C items too, but typically turnout speeds are:

A/B Switch - 20mph
C switch - 25mph
D switch - 30mph
E switch - 40mph
F switch - 50mph
G switch - 70/75mph

 

[deltic08]

Thank you all. This will help me update the 2004 professional costings for reinstating Ripon-Harrogate.

 

[alexl92]

Thank you all. This will help me update the 2004 professional costings for reinstating Ripon-Harrogate.

Do let us know the results. I'm particularly interested in this line.

 

[DarloRich]

Thank you all. This will help me update the 2004 professional costings for reinstating Ripon-Harrogate.

:roll: You aren’t comparing like with like and cant simply extrapolate these figures into another study and generate a meaningful figure. For instance these figures take no mention of topography, ground conditions etc.

What none of the figures seem to include is the labour/haulage/machinery etc. They all look very low to me.

 

[59CosG95]

Thanks very much everyone. The project in question is the central section is the Central section of East-west rail (no pressure then!), and I also want to know the cost of Oxford Parkway (as it's now known) and Islip (redevelopment). Does anyone know those either?

 

[Ploughman]

Any figures available for the Borders Railway works?
That might give you some idea.

 

[Bald Rick]

Thanks very much everyone. The project in question is the central section is the Central section of East-west rail (no pressure then!), and I also want to know the cost of Oxford Parkway (as it's now known) and Islip (redevelopment). Does anyone know those either?

The above figures are just for the purchase and installation of rail, sleepers and ballast. It assumes a clear formation in good condition, ie good embankments, cuttings, bridges and a decent sub base. Then there's signalling, telecoms, power, electrification, etc etc.

 

[DarloRich]

The above figures are just for the purchase and installation of rail, sleepers and ballast. It assumes a clear formation in good condition, ie good embankments, cuttings, bridges and a decent sub base. Then there's signalling, telecoms, power, electrification, etc etc.

they look like material costs only without any installation costs to me

 

[Bald Rick]

they look like material costs only without any installation costs to me

Rule of thumb, new track on prepared track bed c £800/m all in (assuming delivery by rail), and new S&C £400-800k per unit all in excluding signalling elements / points heating etc.

 

[deltic08]

:roll: You aren’t comparing like with like and cant simply extrapolate these figures into another study and generate a meaningful figure. For instance these figures take no mention of topography, ground conditions etc.

What none of the figures seem to include is the labour/haulage/machinery etc. They all look very low to me.

I am comparing what was quoted in 2004/5 for trackwork placed on an already costed prepared formation with costs 10 years later. If anybody can give me a figure for new build formation preparation at to-days prices that would be a guide to preparing the extant trackbed.

Surely Edinburgh-Galashiels is a guide. Trackbed prep was costed there at £5m per mile.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Rule of thumb, new track on prepared track bed c £800/m all in (assuming delivery by rail), and new S&C £400-800k per unit all in excluding signalling elements / points heating etc.

It seems even those in the know are at odds as far as costing is concerned.

The 2005 study broke everything down into cost of plain line, turnouts, overbridges, under bridges, signalling, platforms etc. It was very detailed but at 2004 prices. The only things not included was land buy back and lineside fencing. All former level crossings were replaced by over or under bridges and alterations to road layouts as two level crossings were immediately adjacent to road junctions and required moving major roads.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

they look like material costs only without any installation costs to me

£900-£1000 per metre for materials alone is high - Break it down. A metre of single line track is 1 or 2 sleepers (£50-£70 each perhaps?) 2m of rail (£150 tops) , 1 or 2 ton of ballast (£100-150?) plus a few clips and rail pads is not going to come anywhere near £900. Tamper hire, rail transportation, ballast wagons labour for lots track men, track engineers setting out works, welders, inspectors, tea boys, chain men et cetera will make up the rest of the rate per metre.

The £1000 I quote is what we use in our design office to estimate cost of designs et cetera. A contractor would probably have different rates but will be commercially confidential no doubt.

 

[deltic08]

£900-£1000 per metre for materials alone is high - Break it down. A metre of single line track is 1 or 2 sleepers (£50-£70 each perhaps?) 2m of rail (£150 tops) , 1 or 2 ton of ballast (£100-150?) plus a few clips and rail pads is not going to come anywhere near £900. Tamper hire, rail transportation, ballast wagons labour for lots track men, track engineers setting out works, welders, inspectors, tea boys, chain men et cetera will make up the rest of the rate per metre.

The £1000 I quote is what we use in our design office to estimate cost of designs et cetera. A contractor would probably have different rates but will be commercially confidential no doubt.

Thank you. That is even better broken down that much.

 

[Ships]

£900-£1000 per metre for materials alone is high - Break it down. A metre of single line track is 1 or 2 sleepers (£50-£70 each perhaps?) 2m of rail (£150 tops) , 1 or 2 ton of ballast (£100-150?) plus a few clips and rail pads is not going to come anywhere near £900. Tamper hire, rail transportation, ballast wagons labour for lots track men, track engineers setting out works, welders, inspectors, tea boys, chain men et cetera will make up the rest of the rate per metre.

The £1000 I quote is what we use in our design office to estimate cost of designs et cetera. A contractor would probably have different rates but will be commercially confidential no doubt.

£900-1000 is unit rate cost, so NR costs and contractor costs.