NR NR/L2/CIV/086/MOD02 ISSUE 1 [ Not for New Design ]

This business process defines the procedure for preparing and carrying out earthwork assessments and reporting the results into Network Rail’s Civils Structures Asset Management System (CSAMS). It applies to all earthworks within the Network Rail boundary and slopes outside the boundary that may affect the Network Rail infrastructure.

This business process applies to earthworks (see definitions).

This business process covers the geotechnical assessment of earthwork stability and encompasses:

a) the physical condition of the earthwork

b) vegetation on the earthwork to the extent that it affects the stability of the earthwork or that factors affecting the stability of the earthwork can be inferred from the vegetation

c) the presence of wildlife, particularly burrowing animals, on an earthwork

d) drainage of the earthwork; not just toe, crest and slope drains, but wider drainage including track drainage and natural drainage outside the railway boundary.

This business process does not cover:

a) Health and safety requirements applicable to operational safety.

b) The commercial and all the organisational responsibilities for delivering the requirements of the business process.

c) Site investigation works, including piezometer and inclinometer readings to inform the assessment.

d) The magnitude, level or point of application of surcharges, live loading and ground water levels for back-analysis of earthworks slopes; these are obtained from NR/L3/CIV/071.

Purpose

This business standard/control document is part of Network Rail’s earthworks management process. It is carried out when an evaluation of an earthwork identifies that a risk of failure warrants further investigation and analysis.

In the event that an earthworks assessment is not carried out when required, the consequence may be an unexpected earthworks failure affecting the network or, if remedial works are carried out, the wrong solution being constructed which may accentuate the existing failure. This business process relates to the following risks:

a) loss of track support or track geometry

b) slope failure leading to loss of kinematic envelope or track geometry.