Critical ground improvement works at one of London's busiest transport interchanges were completed over a bank holiday weekend recently, with specialist ground engineering Mainmark UK helping to keep the Tottenham Hale Station refurbishment project on track. The company delivered complex ground improvement supporting refurbishments at the station, which serves National Rail's Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services alongside the London Underground’s Victoria line.
There were concerns that the station’s Platforms 3 and 4, made of precast concrete, had begun to deteriorate and could become unsafe. The supporting structures beneath the precast concrete platforms had deteriorated over time, raising concerns about long-term stability.
While temporary supports had previously been installed to prevent potential collapse, it was decided that the old platforms would be replaced with new, lower-maintenance glass-reinforced polymer (GRP) platforms. But to ensure the ground could safely support the platforms, ground conditions beneath 77 new foundation locations needed strengthening.
Working for CML, a Tier One Principal Contractor for Network Rail and other infrastructure clients, Mainmark used its Teretek® engineered resin injection solution to rapidly strengthen the existing ground, avoiding excavation, minimising disruption to the wider construction programme and completing the works in just three shifts.
David Hedley, Infrastructure Lead at Mainmark UK, said: “The successful delivery at Tottenham Hale Station demonstrates how engineered resin injection can deliver precise, measurable ground improvement under extreme time and environmental constraints, supporting modern rail upgrades without compromising programme or performance.”
The existing ground conditions presented several engineering challenges, including variable-made ground and granular soils requiring densification. Mainmark's solution delivered targeted ground improvement to a depth of two metres beneath each foundation using precision resin injection through small-diameter access points, eliminating the need for excavation and minimising disruption to the wider construction programme.
Raj Sharma, Contracts Manager at CML said: "Mainmark UK demonstrated a high level of technical expertise and professionalism during the platform foundation works at Tottenham Hale Station. Their ability to deliver safely, on programme, and with minimal disruption under challenging conditions was critical to the project's success. We would gladly engage Mainmark UK on future works."
The project, worth more than £150,000, was part of a wider station upgrade, and all works had to be completed within tightly controlled rail possession windows, with multiple contractors operating simultaneously across the site.
The successful delivery demonstrates the type of specialist ground engineering expertise Mainmark will bring to future rail projects, including work delivered through the recently awarded Balfour Beatty CP7 Framework.
The company will support the delivery of key rail infrastructure works across Network Rail’s latest five-year investment programme. The programme focuses on maintaining, renewing and modernising the rail network to deliver a safer, more reliable and more sustainable railway.
Investment priorities during CP7 include infrastructure maintenance and renewals, digital signalling and technology, safety improvements, and initiatives to improve both freight and passenger performance across the network.
As part of the framework, contractors will deliver a broad range of works aligned with Network Rail’s Strategic Business Plan, including low-complexity emergency callouts, planned preventative maintenance and small-scale civil engineering schemes.
Alongside this, Mainmark UK recently announced the appointment of Ian Thornhill as General Manager, marking a key step in the company’s strategy to expand its presence across the UK and Ireland and strengthen its position in the infrastructure sector. Ian brings more than 15 years of experience in infrastructure and engineering services, with a strong background spanning rail, highways and broader infrastructure projects.
Established in the UK in 2016, Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies.