Operation Forth Bridge

1 operation

1.1 traffic
1.2 maintenance
1.3 restoration

operation

the approach bridge dalmeny station



inside forth bridge seen scotrail class 158


traffic

the bridge has speed limit of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) high-speed trains , diesel multiple units, 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) ordinary passenger trains , 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) freight trains. route availability code ra8, freight trains above size must not pass each other on bridge. 190–200 trains per day crossed bridge in 2006.

maintenance

painting forth bridge colloquial expression never-ending task, coined on erroneous belief @ 1 time in history of bridge repainting required , commenced upon completion of previous repaint. such practice never existed, weathered areas given more attention, there permanent maintenance crew. in 2011, bridge covered in new coating designed last 25 years, bringing end having painters regular part of maintenance crew. colin hardie, of balfour beatty construction, reported saying,

for first time in bridge s history there no painters required on bridge. job done ...

restoration

floodlighting installed in 1991, , track renewed between 1992 , 1995. bridge costing british rail £1 million year maintain, , announced schedule of painting interrupted save money, , following year, upon privatisation, railtrack took over. £40 million package of works commenced in 1998, , in 2002 responsibility of bridge passed network rail.

work started in 2002 repaint bridge first time in history, in £130 million contract awarded balfour beatty. 4,000 tonnes (3,900 long tons; 4,400 short tons) of scaffolding on bridge @ time, , computer modelling used analyse additional wind load on structure. bridge encapsulated in climate controlled membrane give proper conditions application of paint. previous layers of paint removed using copper slag fired @ 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), exposing steel , allowing repairs made. paint, developed bridge leigh paints, consisted of system of 3 coats derived used in north sea oil industry. 240,000 litres (53,000 imp gal; 63,000 us gal) of paint applied 255,000 square metres (2,740,000 sq ft) of structure, , not expected need repainting @ least 20 years. top coat can reapplied indefinitely, minimising future maintenance work.

panoramic view of forth bridge undergoing maintenance work in 2007

in report produced je jacobs, grant thornton , faber maunsell in 2007 reviewed alternative options second road crossing, stated network rail has estimated life of bridge in excess of 100 years. however, dependant [sic] upon nr s inspection , refurbishment works programme bridge being carried out year on year .