Innovation in the Rail Sector: Concrete on a Roll

Technical Seminar at Railtex/Infrarail 2021

Tuesday 7 Sept 2021 – 13:50

Gavin Adams, Technical Sales – Midlands & North, Concrete Canvas

At 13:50 on the first day of Railtex/Infrarail 2021, in the Rail Business Daily Technical Seminar Theatre, Gavin Adams from Concrete Canvas will speak on the topic:

Innovation in the Rail Sector: Concrete on a Roll

GCCMs (Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats) have been widely used by Network Rail across the UK for more than ten years and are an industry-accepted alternative to conventional concrete. The geosynthetics have been specified by Route Directors, Senior Asset Engineers (Drainage) and minor works teams across the five Network Rail regions and their 13 routes.

Offering a lower carbon, environmentally sensitive solution for erosion control and weed suppression applications when compared to traditional concrete solutions, GCCMs have been extensively used through CP4, CP5 and CP6.

Concrete Canvas^® is an excellent example of a GCCM, being BBA certified with a durability in excess of 120 years when used in erosion control applications. The majority of route network framework contractors have installed Concrete Canvas, including QTS, BAM Nuttall, Costain, AmcoGiffen, Alun Griffiths and Story Contracting.

Specified on numerous projects for Network Rail, Transport for London, Translink NI Railways and others, typical rail applications for Concrete Canvas in the UK include the rapid lining of crest drainage channels, culvert repair and weed suppression.

The presentation will explore the use of GCCMs in the rail sector since their first use in 2009 and how it is rapidly establishing itself as the construction material of choice with network providers worldwide. Its speed and ease of installation means Concrete Canvas is well suited to time-critical track-side work, reducing line possession and improving safety.

Samples of Concrete Canvas will be available for inspection on stand D30 in hall 12.

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