11th August 2005

A pair of TCP Hi-T500 compact tracked dumpers on hire from Belswains Plant Services of Hemel Hempstead are helping a specialist foundation company to remove spoil from a tight location at nearby Apsley Station.

Aspin Foundations, also based in Hemel, has been awarded a twelve week contract by Birse Rail to install eight piled foundations for a new footbridge at the station as part of Network Rail’s major West Coast Mainline up-grade.

The bridge has to be located in a position approximately 100 m from the old site as part of the overall contract to extend the platforms to enable them to accommodate longer, twelve carriage trains.

By careful choice of both method and plant, Aspin has been able to dramatically shorten its contract period by being able to minimise night and weekend working at the station which has to remain open to passengers throughout.

According to Barry McMahon, Aspin’s contracts director, “The Hi-T500 is a fantastic machine for this tight access and difficult site where we have to negotiate narrow gaps and 30 degree inclines”

Manufactured by Taylor Construction Plant of Maldon in Essex, the rugged Hi-T500 is powered by a 7.4 kW (10 hp) Kubota diesel engine driving via a 2-speed fully hydrostatic transmission and is just 700 mm wide.

Visit the Hi-T500 page for more information