A cost-effective, eco-friendly platform system

Scott Parnell tells Rail Business Daily about its Footprint Modular System, highlighting the positive impact it believes this technology can make on the rail industry

The Footprint Modular Platform is an innovative modular platform system made from recycled tyre rubber. A collaboration between Footprint Civil Solutions, Rosehill Rail, Scott Parnell, and Arcadis, the cost-effective system has the potential to revolutionise platform construction thanks to reduced installation times, low maintenance requirements, and a negative carbon footprint.

Sustainable infrastructure not only serves a civil engineering purpose, but is designed to benefit the community, environment, and economy. It must address key challenges including reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimising waste, and conserving energy.

Breaking the norm of station design and platform installation, the Footprint Modular Platform is built from individual rubber blocks perfectly sized and weighted for manual handling and designed to simplify the construction process by minimising the requirement for on-track plant.

For over three decades, Rosehill Rail have repurposed recycled tyre rubber using an innovative low energy cold-cure manufacturing process to develop new low carbon products. Where these replace products that are manufactured from virgin materials, such as concrete, the total carbon footprint is reduced, often resulting in a carbon negative solution.

In an industry where concrete and steel have long been king, the emergence of a viable sustainable alternative offers an opportunity to significantly reduce carbon emissions when compared to traditional materials. A typical 36 metre platform extension saves 25 tons of carbon.

Manufactured in the UK by Rosehill Rail to ensure short lead times, the Footprint Modular Platform is made to Network Rail specifications and distributed by Scott Parnell’s extensive network. Each platform can be faced to match the existing aesthetics of the station.

Features & Benefits:

• Sustainable — carbon negative components produced from recycled tyre rubber
• Reduced installation time and programme surety — using fewer trades and skilled people while removing weather dependency on installation
• Off-site modular manufacturing for onsite assembly — consistent quality for rapid installation
• Lightweight components — easily handled and fast to install, removing any need for large lifting equipment
• Fire resistant — designed to comply with BS476 Parts 20/21 and BS476 Parts 6/7 *
• High strength — designed to comply with BS EN-1991-1-1:2002 5kn/m2 & L/300 deflection *
• Tested and assured — Rail Industry standard compliant — complies with RIS-7700-INS & RIS-7016-INS
• Low maintenance and long life – will not corrode and can be jet-washed to keep its just-installed looks

*Additional testing to be undertaken

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