Railway Drainage for Platforms, Trackside and Rail Infrastructure

Railways serve as a transport link for many people for work, social events or a transfer between airports, cities and towns. On average in the UK, railway stations see up to 1.8 billion visitors per year. 

For rail infrastructure, it is essential to have well-designed and efficient surface drainage systems to ensure minimal disruption to rail services, reduce degradation of mechanisms and keep commuters safe.

Depending on the station or time (e.g. peak/off-peak), railway platforms can expect to see anything from light to heavy footfall. Linear drainage must be durable enough to cope with continual foot traffic to ensure longevity. As this is a public area, heelsafe gratings are essential for pedestrian safety.

The safe removal of surface water on railway platforms can help prevent run-off from going onto the track. The material of the drainage system should also be taken into account for platform rail drainage. Composite channels/gratings have non-conductive properties which are recommended to reduce the effects of flux.

Without efficient trackside drainage, storm events can disrupt services caused by surface water flooding. Any engineering work carried out trackside can have an impact on rail operators and commuters.

The speed of installation plays a major role to reduce the amount of inconvenience and getting operations back up and running. Drainage channels that are easy to handle and low in weight provide a quick and simple installation. They offer a cost-effective solution as they don’t need any lifting equipment on-site.

When selecting the right system for your trackside rail project, the HAURATON team will take into account the ground conditions, design, track usage and local climate by using accurate hydraulic calculations.

Case study: Severn Tunnel East trackside drainage
Over 500 metres of HAURATON drainage channels were successfully laid by Alfred McAlpine Project Services in the cutting approaching of Severn Tunnel East. It was a part of an on-going engineering work commissioned by Western Territory Network Rail that underlines their commitment to provide a safe and reliable railway. Extensive work was carried out on the trackside and cutting slopes on this busy section of line.

RECYFIX STANDARD 300 channels supplied to McAlpine were a good choice as they have a large drainage cross section (863cm²) and yet only weigh 14.4kg per one metre unit. This was greatly appreciated by the contractor as easy manual handling of the channels was essential to reduce hassle on-site and allow faster installation procedures. The work was completed with minimal disruption to services.

The RECYFIX channels were specified to comply with a load category Class C 250 and matched with patented GUGI ductile iron mesh gratings which are secured by eight bolts per metre. The mesh gratings were chosen as it helps prevent the surrounding stone ballast from entering the channel.

As a registered RISQS supplier for the rail sector, our technical sales team and project managers understand the importance of delivering robust drainage systems that provide a reliable performance over many years.

Oliver Hallpike Managing Director – HAURATON

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Drainage for rail infrastructure: car parks and station forecourts

Aside from tracks and platforms, rail infrastructure covers surrounding areas such as railway station forecourts and parking areas. Typically these areas are impermeable surfaces. Linear drainage systems play a vital role in controlling surface water run-off and the prevention of flooding within these types of locations.

RECYFIX NC installed at Lille train station forecourt

Considerations for drainage at railway station car parks

RECYFIX HICAP installed at industrial bay in railway station

Extensive surfaces

Station car parks can cover large surface areas. Drainage systems with a large hydraulic capacity will accommodate the flow of vast amounts of surface water.

DRAINFIX CLEAN at railway complex car park

Polluted surfaces

Station car parks can be subject to pollutants such as microplastics and fuel hydrocarbons. A surface water treatment scheme could be a fundamental part of your project design.

HAURATON have a dedicated rainwater treatment channel that collects, filters and releases purified water back into natural watercourses or sewer networks.

FASERFIX KS car park drainage for top of car park level at Korona Shopping Centre

Depth restrictions

Rail stations can have their very own multi-storey car park. The top deck will require a drainage system to prevent standing water. HAURATON have shallow invert channels for limited to restricted installations.

Whether it is a new station build or refurbishment project, the HAURATON team endeavour to be your end-to-end project support. Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. For drainage of railway station forecourts, please refer to our public space application.

Complete project support from the start of your journey to the end

From the pre-planning phase, rail drainage design, run scheduling and on-site installation advice, the HAURATON team will put you on the right track for your railway project.

As an accredited supplier for Network Rail under the Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS approval), HAURATON understand the requirements for providing the right solution for these specialised projects.

RECYFIX PRO installed at dobieszyn train station

RECYFIX PRO installed at chexbres train station

Railway drainage solutions for rail construction

The following solutions from HAURATON are recommended for safe and reliable surface drainage in rail infrastructure. All systems from HAURATON comply with Network Rail drainage standards.

RECYFIX PRO

Non-conductive & corrosion-free drainage for railway platforms.

RECYFIX MONOTEC

Durable drainage channel for platforms, sidings, concourses and car parks.

SLOTTED CHANNEL

Ideal façade drainage for stations.

RECYFIX HICAP F

High capacity slot drainage system, ideal for draining extensive car parks.

Load class according to EN 1433

up to D 400

up to F 900

Load frequency

–

Load dynamics

–

Nominal width | System size

100, 150, 200, 300

100 & 200

100 & 150

1000, 2000, 3000, 5000, 8000, 10000

Materials of the lower parts

Polypropylene (PP), 100 % recycled composite

Modified polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP), 100% recycled composite

Modified polypropylene (PP), 100 % recycled composite

Angle housing

Composite frame 20 x 20 mm insertion depth

–

Grating variants

– Longitudinal bar grating
– GUGI design gratings
– Mesh gratings
– FIBRETEC and METROPOLIS design gratings
⇒ Made of ductile iron, polypropylene (PP), galvanised steel, stainless steel

Integrated award-winning FIBRETEC heelsafe design

– Slot gratings made of galvanised or stainless steel (V2A, V4A)
– Duo slot gratings
– Symmetrical & asymmetrical versions

Retained ductile iron slotted top

Gradient

– Constant depth
– Stepped fall

Special characteristics

– Pre-assembled ready for installation
– Low weight, easy to handle and install
– Channel body can be easily machined, cut to size on-site

– Large retention volume despite slim channel design
– Monolithic drainage channel
– Vandalism-proof
– Easy cleaning via the inspection box

– Unique connection technology of the slot tops
– Removeable access tray

– Radial installations possible
– Large channels for retention
– Channel run without slotted top achievable, for example, under planted areas
– Cable installations can be threaded though throat voids of the channel

Application areas that may also interest you

Public Space

Parking

Car park drainage at Audi in Germany with DRAINFIX CLEAN

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Characteristics of railway platform drainage

Rail reference: RECYFIX PRO installed at Low Moor Railway Station

Characteristics of rail trackside drainage