Railway bridges are a vital part of the rail network. They connect cities, towns and logistics hubs and must operate reliably, safely and remain fit for the future. Strukton has built a strong reputation in the design, renewal, maintenance and safe execution of complex railway bridge projects. Work on bridges requires technical precision, advanced planning and in-depth knowledge of both railway and civil engineering, and that is exactly where Strukton excels.
Railway Bridges
Specialism
Expertise
Strukton’s specialties when it comes to railway bridges
- Renewal of major railway bridges
- Renovation of historic or ageing bridge structures
- Work on movable and technically challenging bridges
- Track replacement on embedded rail systems
- Precision management in complex urban environments
- Multidisciplinary delivery, from railway construction to civil engineering and technical installations
Whether it involves bridge renovations, new railway bridges, complex movable bridges or the renewal of rail systems, Strukton has the experience, people and resources to deliver these projects safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption.
Railway Bridge Renovation and Renewal
Strukton regularly carries out large-scale railway bridge renewal projects throughout the Netherlands. In Rijswijk, for example, new bridge sections were lifted into place for the railway bridge over the Kerstanjewetering waterway, an operation characterised by heavy equipment, limited working space and a highly demanding schedule. Bridge sections weighing 87 tonnes and measuring 18 metres in length and 5 metres in width were positioned using large cranes.
Strukton also worked on railway bridges in Delft as part of the track doubling project between Rijswijk and Delft Zuid. The existing bridge was replaced with a new structure suitable for four tracks and featuring increased navigation clearance to improve the flow of water traffic.
Work on Complex and Movable Bridges
Some railway bridges present additional challenges because of their design and operational requirements. A good example is the metro railway bridge across the Schinkel in Amsterdam, where Strukton renewed the crossover complex and rail infrastructure. This movable bridge is located directly alongside railway, metro and motorway connections, making logistics and safety particularly complex. Colleagues from track, cabling, signalling, switch heating and civil structures worked together in an integrated approach to successfully deliver the project.
Strukton also renewed ageing steel railway bridges dating from 1928 in Brussels, replacing them with new concrete structures. This formed part of a large-scale railway renewal programme on the western ring railway line.
Specialist Craftsmanship: Track on Structures
Replacing rails on bridges, known in the railway sector as engineering structures, requires a completely different approach from track installed on ballast. In these situations, the rails are positioned within a trough and embedded in a specially designed compound. This makes replacement technically complex and highly precise. The rails must be positioned with millimetre accuracy to prevent instability. The existing compound is removed using high-pressure techniques, after which the trough is primed and filled with new compound. A temporary enclosure is even installed to control temperature and moisture conditions during the process. [strukton.nl]
“ The surrounding environment also requires special attention. Traffic may continue to operate underneath a railway bridge, which means that water, materials and fastening components must be collected and removed in a controlled manner.”
