Transpennine Route upgrade
Fully-electric Smart-Release BulkX used on replacement railway bridge project
ContractorTRU East Alliance (Network Rail, J. Murphy & Sons, VolkerRail, Siemens & Systra) with Ainscough Crane Hire
LocationNorth England, UK
The Project
The TRU East Alliance in the UK is delivering the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a modern high-speed railway designed to provide greener, more reliable train services between York, Leeds, and Manchester.
The team is partially electrifying the line, replacing overbridges and underbridges, installing pedestrian footbridges, upgrading platforms, improving sidings, and completing drainage work—including tunnel boring beneath the line.
They are also realigning the rail, replacing track points, and installing signal gantries as part of the many complex work packages involved.
In May 2024, on a section of railway near the village of Barkston Ash, the contractor faced a complex and time-sensitive challenge: replacing an end-of-life brick arch overbridge spanning the A162, a key access route into York. The bridge carried trains on the CFM line, which connects the northern cities of Leeds and York. The project team spent months planning the replacement, including establishing a rail diversion route to keep passengers moving between the two cities.
The Challenge
The team planned the works within a 101-hour window during a four-day blockade. They operated from a compound with no direct access to the track for machinery from road level.
They relied entirely on a 700t Ainscough crane and Conquip lifting accessories to remove track ballast and spoil and to replace it with new bulk material. The team needed to dismantle the 14-metre-long brick arch and abutments—about 650 tonnes of brick and stone—then lift and transport the debris back to the compound using the Conquip Smart-Release BulkX. Only after completing this removal could they begin installing the new structure, which used 45-tonne precast concrete (PCC) sills and 65-tonne steel U-beams to create a stronger, modern bridge.
Excavators and cranes supported the contractor teams, who worked around the clock to complete the rail replacement.
The Solution
Conquip supplied the largest available Smart-Release BulkX skip, with a 16,000-litre capacity, to handle high-volume excavation and material movement.
This remotely operated, fully electric solution maximised operational uptime. It accelerated excavation and material transfer across multiple site areas while enhancing safety and eliminating people-plant interface risks.
Results
The highly engineered Smart-Release BulkX enabled the team to move materials efficiently from the lower compound up onto the track. By using two skips, the team ensured continuous operation—while one skip delivered materials, the other returned for refill—eliminating downtime and keeping the supply chain to the working face uninterrupted.
“The delivery was on time and to a high health and safety standard and the product has been well received on site, with training offered and arranged. The follow up meetings after returning the product shows that Conquip never stop wanting to improve the system.”
John Joyce | Construction Manager, Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU East Alliance)
Project feedback
“Having managed the works since 2023 and well into 2024, it’s been a pleasure to work with the Conquip team. The customer service has been sharp and client-focused, so while we worked 24hr possessions, the out of hours support they provided was excellent.”
John Joyce | Construction Manager, Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU East Alliance)