rail over road bridge strikes - discussion of an emergency recovery …€¦ · small bridges...

Small Bridges Conference Melbourne, November 2015

DISCUSSION OF AN EMERGENCY RECOVERY IN A METRO AREA

RAIL OVER ROAD BRIDGE STRIKES -

Thanks to…

This presentation will cover:

• Background context of Bridge Strikes

• General concepts of Cost Recovery

• Lessons learned from a typical emergency

recovery

This is not a technical presentation – no time to

make things complicated in an emergency!

• The railway often older than the road

• Many low clearance rail over road bridges

• Average of 34 strikes per year

• Usually at least 1 catastrophic strike a year

• Likely bridge strikes are unreported

Background

The damage can

be catastrophic

but…

The bridge

usually wins!

In New Zealand:

• The driver of the vehicle is liable

• If a hit and run – the local authority is liable

• Insurance companies used to agreeing costs

before expended – Not possible for Bridge

Strikes

General Concepts of Cost Recovery

• Engineers lead initial response if catastrophic

• Dedicated cost recovery team manages

interfaces beyond initial response

• Short term aim is to record and recover ALL

costs - Average cost to KiwiRail is NZD$18,000

• Long term aim is to reduce bridge strikes


It is not just physical repair costs that can be

recovered:

• Internal staff time and external Consultants

• Disbursements (hotels, flights, meals)

• Revenue losses

• Speed restrictions

• Alternative transport (buses, road bridging)


Pitfalls;

• Must be able to prove costs – Good

documentation!

• Never discuss costs unless based on evidence

• Insurers will not pay for betterment

• Large claims likely to be contested and may

take years to recover


• Cost recovery is a worthwhile process


Financial Year

Costs incurred by KiwiRail

Costs recovered by KiwiRail

Number of Strikes

10/11 $1,063,898 Nil 32

11/12 $319,677 $126,931 33

12/13* $341,912 $99,147 28

13/14 $429,598 $1,290,339 29

14/15 $1,087,203 $1,053,772 49

* Formal cost recovery process implemented

Br 30 WL – Bridge Strike on 7th January 2015

• 220 passenger train movements per week

• Eastern Hutt road is a vital link


• Forklift hit impact beam and cartwheeled up

into the span


Timeline:

• Bridge hit at 2pm on Wed 7th Jan

• Temporary repairs and propping in place and

bridge re-opened at 4pm on Fri 9th Jan

• Temporary replacement span and full line

speed restored at 4pm on Sun 18th Jan


Lessons learned:

• Don’t panic

• Consult with you customer

• Internal resource and experience that can be

mobilized immediately is vital

• Good working relationships with consultants

and contractors crucial


Lessons learned:

• Recognize the limits of your knowledge

• Assess and mitigate risks (design, fatigue,

unknowns)

• Reinforced the value of BOL planning

• Don’t compromise – impact beam was hit

within 72hrs of the bridge re-opening

Thank you

rail over road bridge strikes - discussion of an emergency recovery …€¦ · small bridges...

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