Corus Cogifer’s nice turnout

As part of their long term supply of switches and crossings to the West Coast Route Modernisation (WCRM) scheme, Corus Cogifer Switches and Crossings have manufactured the first CEN60 high-speed H31.25 turnout to be installed on Network Rail’s infrastructure. The turnout is one of many supplied by Corus Cogifer for the Rugby Station Remodelling Scheme. This turnout has been designed as a unique equal split geometry to allow speeds of up to 125mph through either route.

The 45 metre long stock and switch rails were manufactured by Vossloh Switch Systems-a 50% shareholder in Corus Cogifer-at their factory in Reichshoffen near Strasbourg. The switches were then transported to Corus Cogifer in Scunthorpe where the turnout was assembled in full at their factory. The sheer size of the completed layout, which incorporated 200 concrete bearers and almost 800 cast SG iron baseplates, required a large proportion of yard space because the overall length of the turnout when fully assembled is 130 metres from end to end. The switches have been designed to be operated by the in-bearer clamp lock and hydrive hydraulic back drive system which Corus Cogifer have assisted Network Rail to develop by providing a trial set of H switches and arranging for installation and maintenance training facilities to be provided in the layout yard.

To facilitate the delivery of the 45m long switches, initially by road transport, Corus Cogifer have developed a modular support beam which ensures the switches are not subjected to undue distortion during the transportation process. Following delivery to site, the Network Rail project team at Rugby are due to install the high speed turnout into track in early August with the final commissioning scheduled for December 2007.

This turnout marks the beginning of a busy summer for Corus Cogifer who will be supplying a large number of high speed turnouts for Network Rail including G33.5 turnouts and crossovers. These turnouts will be installed on the Rugby Station Remodelling project, the Nuneaton Phase II works, the Trent Valley Four Tracking (TV4T) and the East Midlands Resignalling Project.

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