When the lighting and power supply within the Stansted Tunnel needed upgrading, Marshall-Tufflex was able to supply Network Rail’s specified Class 1 GRP cable tray system to a tight deadline.
A crucial element of Stansted Tunnel, the only rail route in and out of Stansted Airport, is the lighting system which caters for safe passenger evacuation in an emergency and provides light for maintenance teams. After 30 years of water ingress and general wear and tear, J Murphy & Sons was awarded the contract to replace the entire lighting, lighting support systems and power supplies for the tunnel.
The upgrade project involves the installation of a new GRP handrail with integral lighting running along the tunnel wall and the steel walkway, emergency lighting and supporting electrical supplies and Marshall-Tufflex’s GRP cable management system. Work is being carried out to a strict schedule between January 2022 and January 2023, with line closures being restricted to Friday and Saturday nights.
The cable trays had to meet Class 1 fire rating in order to maintain a certain level of fire resistance, whilst still maintaining the integrity of the cabling. In addition to being suitable for the environment, the cable management systems also needed to have a minimum design life of 25 years. Marshall-Tufflex was the only company able to provide GRP cable management products that met the specific requirements and the tight installation deadlines. The company’s GRP cable trays are lightweight, long lasting and provide high levels of fire and corrosion resistance, making them ideal for challenging rail environments. Furthermore, Marshall-Tufflex is registered with the RISQS Railway Industry Supplier Qualification scheme.
During the January 2022 possessions, J Murphy and Sons removed and replaced 1,800m of handrail and installed 1,800m of MarshallTufflex’s GRP cable trays. These trays require fewer components and feature interlocking and self-adjusting couplings which made them quick and easy to assemble and install. 45° bends have accommodated changes in level around recesses in the tunnel wall, enabling the tray to run down and underneath the walkway rather than straight across where it would cause a trip hazard.
