Effective trackway solution for urgent UKPN powerline fix

The Project

This was an urgent trackway solution request that came in on an afternoon in December 2023, from a regular customer of ours, Riglift UK. 

Our client required a trackway solution, to gain access across wet farmland to recover a fallen tree that had taken down the overhead power line (OHPL) pole, due to adverse weather conditions. UK Power Networks (UKPN), a major distribution network operator for electricity in the UK, needed the panels for access to repair the line itself. 

It was important to help resolve this swiftly, so we acted fast. Mitch, one of our project engineers, travelled down from our Retford depot that evening. He met our client on-site at 09:00 am the next morning in order to assess the requirements.

From the outset, we could see this was not a straightforward installation, especially with restricted site access. 

Our Service & Trackway Solution

By midday, we had provided the client with a detailed trackway solution. The solution included a site drawing, site-specific RAMS, and a quotation. 

We opted to install our trackway solution using two Moffett forklift trucks. These were supplied by our partners Bowman Transport.  

We were on site by 08:00 am the next day. Mitch remained on site for the duration to oversee and supervise the installation, in addition, a couple of our labourers acted as banksmen. 

90 aluminium panels were installed, with the two Moffett forklift trucks working together to install down a narrow farmer’s track. To do this, we had one Moffett truck loading up with 5 panels using the forks reversing down the lane backward for counterbalance down the hill. The second Moffett was installing the panels with a clamp attachment along the proposed route towards the OHPL pole.  

Our crew completed the installation by lunchtime the same day with traffic management at the roadside.  

This was, all in all, a very tricky situation. Although many extraneous factors were against us, by using our experience and expertise we provided an efficient solution. Our effective trackway solution enabled Riglift UK to gain access and UKPN to complete the fix.