On track for success: track monitoring on Ridley railway bridge

South Tyne Viaduct, Northumberland

Project Overview

Location	South Tyne Viaduct, Northumberland
Sector	Rail
Products	Structural Monitoring Propping & Jacking

Located in Northumberland, the South Tyne Viaduct carries the Tyne Valley line (between Newcastle and Carlisle) over the South Tyne River. When repairs were needed on the bridge’s concrete piers, a combination of temporary jacking equipment and track monitoring solutions were required, resulting in us being appointed by AmcoGiffen.

The challenge

Tight lifting tolerances

Lifting the bridge deck by only 5 mm in sections created a high risk of misalignment or structural strain.

Strict rail compliance

Working on a live Network Rail asset imposed demanding safety and engineering standards that limited flexibility during works.

Risk of track movement

Any displacement during the lifting process could compromise rail integrity and disrupt future train operations.

Our solution

Mabey Hire was engaged by AmcoGiffen to provide both temporary works equipment and monitoring technology for the bridge repair project. A range of hydraulic jacks was supplied and installed to safely support the structure and lift the bridge deck off its supports, enabling access to the concrete pillars below.

Alongside the jacking system, remote monitoring sensors were fitted to track any movement or displacement in real time, with all data transmitted to the Insite portal for live analysis and automated alerts.

View Insite real-time monitoring

According to Steven Howell, Monitoring Engineer, Mabey Hire’s ability to deliver both the jacking and monitoring elements under one provider streamlined the process and reduced overall project risk.

Their dedicated hydraulics team, experienced in designing and operating tailored jacking systems, worked alongside the company’s specialist monitoring department to provide a fully integrated temporary works solution, ensuring safety, precision and efficiency throughout the operation.

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