London Victoria Tube Station

Industry

Rail

Expertises

Working at Height

Safety Circle steps used in this project

Installation Solutions,

Training & Education

Victoria Line, Station, Travelling Gantry

The client

Victoria Tube station is the third busiest in London and upgrading the station is part of a TfL (Transport for London) initiative to increase the Tube's capacity.

Eurosafe provided a safe means of access for maintenance requirements.

The building

The Central London station, used by over 80 million people a year, was upgraded with the construction of a new North Ticket Hall, new entrances, expansion of the existing South Ticket Hall, step-free access to both Tube and National Rail platforms, new lifts and escalators and a new passageway to the Victoria Line platform.

Vinci BAM Nuttall Limited, a joint venture, began the first phase of construction on the new ticket hall under Bressenden Place, in 2011. The upgrades are part of TfL's five-year, £10 billion investment programme in modernising major stations, trains, track and signalling to increase capacity for the ever-growing city.

The requirement

Due to the redevelopment of Victoria Tube Station, access was required so that the lighting could be installed and other equipment installed into the ceiling above the escalators.

At the highest point from the bottom of the escalators, access would be extremely problematic, requiring the erection of a full-height scaffold to enable TfL operatives to carry out routine maintenance activities.

Eurosafe - Travelling Gantry — Victoria Tube Station - Case Study

The solution

Eurosafe designed a solution including a Noracon Travelling Gantry that was installed to the full width and length of the North Ticket Hall suspended from aluminium monorails concealed within the ceiling construction.

The Gantry was designed to travel parallel to the escalators beneath utilising a rope-driven trolley which removed the requirement for any electrical connections.

To enable the platform to travel the full length of the ticket hall, part of the gantry was designed to become detached from the main section, allowing it to be “jettisoned” at the point where the new lift obstructs travel. The two sections become independent at this point, allowing the gantry to continue travelling the remaining distance.

Safe access was also provided to the Gantry via a secure access door at the lower end of the escalator hall. A bespoke access stair and eyebolts were installed at the doorway.

Full end-user training was also provided to all TfL staff who are required to use the gantry, including rescue from height training in the event of an emergency.