PROJECT HISTORY
The challenge
A £160m modernisation project aimed to address ageing signals and crossing infrastructure at one of Scotland's most critical rail junctions
Carstairs Junction
Using digital innovation to deliver Scotland’s largest rail enhancement project
The solution
As lead design organisation of the rail enhancements, renewals and new electrification system, we used a digital twin to coordinate a complex design
The Impact
The digital twin allowed for better management of the design by providing comprehensive asset visibility - reducing design time by 35%
35%
design time reduced
80%
improvement in data exchange
1500 clashes
resolved during the design phase
The challenge
Carstairs Junction is one of the most critical rail junctions in Scotland and is the electrified mainline route for cross-border passenger and freight services between Scotland and England. A £160m modernisation project aimed to deliver renewals and enhancements to address ageing signals and crossing infrastructure, upgrade and renew existing overhead line electrification assets, as well as solve issues relating to poor track condition.
Arcadis acted as lead design organisation on the project which was delivered by Rail Systems Alliance Scotland – an organisation created by Network Rail in 2019 with Arcadis and Babcock Rail to deliver track renewals and enhancements across Scotland’s rail network. Our role included designing the overhead line electrification system to increase junction speeds from 40 to 110 miles per hour, providing capacity for high-speed services to Edinburgh and Glasgow, while reducing carbon emissions by 20% to 30%.
The solution
With 10 different disciplines involved in designing the upgraded junction, station and freight loop, and with project teams working from around the world, we used a digital twin to manage and co-ordinate the complex multidisciplinary design. Leveraging our digital expertise, we created the virtual twin of the Carstairs Junction project area using a suite of digital tools for different circumstances. The model was presented by our team in a clear and consistent format which allowed a range of both technical and non-technical stakeholders to understand any issues or points of conflict in clear detail.
The digital twin helped speed up decision making and facilitated savings through design rationalisation. It also enabled the team to continue working at pace during the Covid-19 pandemic when it was at risk of being delayed by lockdowns. Additionally, the digital twin was used to aid signal sighting, provided a virtual aid to reduce the time to train drivers on the new layout, and produced site safety briefing videos and project visualisations.
The impact
The Carstairs digital twin elevated Network Rail’s ability to manage the design of the upgrades by providing comprehensive asset visibility. It led to an improvement in data exchange by 80%, while our team identified and resolved 15,000 clashes during the design phase – reducing the design time by 35%.
This innovative work represents a new frontier in rail, demonstrating Arcadis’ commitment to delivering bold, technology-enabled solutions. By helping deliver Scotland’s largest rail enhancement project, the completed work at Carstairs will enhance safety, allow passengers to benefit from a faster line speed, and support Network Rail meet its long-term sustainability goals.
