Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Contract 240)

These twin bore, 8.15 metre by 4.7 metre tunnels were constructed by a joint venture between Costain, Skanska, and the French Contractor, Bachy Soletanche.

The project was executed using an NEC shortform contract, on a target cost basis. VVB formed part of the original Costain, Skanska, Bachy bid team. When the contract was successfully secured, VVB engaged in a pre-construction period, as part of an Early Contractor Involvement initiative put forward by Rail Link Engineering Ltd (RLE) and Union Railways.

VVB was appointed by the Joint Venture Board to project manage the Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) requirements of the contract, from inception through installation, commissioning and maintenance of the works, to completion of all aspects of the construction phase of the project.

VVB’s role included:

• Liaison with the client’s consultants (RLE)
• Review and comment on design
• Interface with civils
• Value engineering and design amendments
• Letting contracts
• Management of specialist suppliers and specialist subcontractors
• Early contractual involvement

VVB provided all Temporary Mechanical and Electrical services throughout the construction phase of the contract, including all engineering support, installation and maintenance of both Wirth Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).

VVB’s scope included:

• Tunnel lighting
• Communications systems
• Installation and maintenance of TBMs
• SCADA and PLC control systems
• CCTV
• Telephone systems
• In-tunnel gas monitoring systems
• HV and LV distribution
• Ventilation fans
• UPS
• X passage installations
• Standby generators
• Drainage pumps
• Firemain
• Firepumps
• Tunnel and surface conveyor systems
• Installation and maintenance of a global dewatering system, along the tunnel alignment route

On bringing this phase of the project to completion successfully within budget, the client has brought together all the four 200 series contracts (C220, C230, C240 and C250) and requested that VVB carry on the works for the next phase of the project.