Engineering Polyurethane Excellence

Pre-coated light rail reduces installation time for
Nottingham Express Transit

Installation of the ALH 'Series-Six' encapsulated rail for the Nottingham Express Transit light rail scheme has begun. NET Line 1 is to have 4kms of twin track, street running, encapsulated rail laid - this is following the success of 'Series-Six' with Midland Metro and the Manchester Metro extension.

ALH 'Series-Six' pre-coated polyurethane encapsulated rail, was selected because of its high electrical insulation, vibration resistance, noise reduction, anti-skid and anti-corrosion properties. Plus, it substantially reduces installation time, and civil engineering long-term risk.

Rail installation is straightforward with the 'ALH' pre-coated rail system. A concrete base slab is laid to which rails are fixed by adjustable plates. Rail-to-rail bonding wires and the weld infill coating is then completed. Line, level, height, and gauge adjustments are checked, concrete poured around the pre-coated rail, the road constructed up to the rails, and the road level finished to the rail height. Lastly, the final road surface is applied - a 'head-down construction'.

Granite chippings or other anti-slip materials can be included in the top exposed area of the polyurethane. When the road surface is applied to the road adjacent to the rail, the anti-slip material can be matched up to the polymer, ensuring overall road to rail surface skid-resistance, and cosmetic appeal!