Case Study
Vibration Protection for
London Underground (UK)

Proven reduction of vibrations

Elastic pads on bottom and endsof the sleepers

Veriied long-term quality

Improved quality of Lifefor Residents

Description of the project The solution
Track renewal for
London UndergroundT

he track of the London Underground District Line was completely renewed between Paddingtonand High Street Kensington stationsin the city centre. Around 173 million passengers use this line every
year. Starting in July 2011, this very
busy section of track, which is alsopart of the Circle Line, was upgraded with new ballast, rails and brandnew sleepers with pads supplied by
Getzner Werkstoffe.
The sleeper pads protect the track superstructure and reduce the level ofvibrations caused by the undergroundtrains. They also have a beneicial
effect on the numerous dwellings
alongside the track, as the decreasein vibrations noticeably improves theresidents' quality of life.

Sleeper pads as vibration protectionProviding elastic bearings for thisstretch of the District Line was
the irst major sleeper pad projectfor London Underground: the vibration protection requirements calledfor the use of full-surface Sylodyn®
sleeper pads, which are ideal for effectively minimising vibrations. Deliveries were made both to the CEMEX
sleeper works and directly to London
Underground.
This renovated section of the District Line runs through very narrow
tunnels, meaning that there is little to no gap between the sleepers
and the drainage channels adjacentto the tunnel wall. A particular challenge in this case was preventing an1

increase in the level of sound transmission through the tunnel walls. The
elastic Sylodyn® bearings were for theirst time placed not only on the bottom of the sleepers, but also on theends, thus reducing the transmissionof noise and vibrations through thetunnel wall.
Comprehensive project support
Around 7,000 pads for concrete
sleepers and roughly 1,000 pads
for timber sleepers were used on astretch of track extending over approximately 2.5 kilometres. CEMEX
itted the elastic bearings to the concrete sleepers directly in its sleeper
works. London Underground itself itted the pads to the timber sleepers.
Getzner was involved in all phases of23

1 Pre-assembly of the sleeper
pads in the works
2 Sylodyn® bearings on theends of the sleepers
3 Installation in the tunnel

the project – from inding the solution
and performing calculations to providing support to the sleeper works
and London Underground.
Successful and long-term
collaboration

Getzner supported us with excellent
customer service and was also present on-site during installation, whenrequired," explains Andrew Carey,
Sales Manager of the sleeper manufacturer CEMEX Rail Products.
Testing conﬁrms effectiveness

The CEMEX sleeper works is alreadyan experienced partner of Getzner inthe pre-assembly of sleeper pads.
"We have worked together withGetzner on a number of projects –both for Network Rail and for London
Underground. During the implementation of these projects, we were able togain valuable experience in the installation of sleeper pads.

Structure-borne noise measurements
taken following the installation verify
the effectiveness of the vibration protection solution from Getzner.

Some long-term residents living next
to the track have even written andthanked us for providing them withgreater peace and quiet. Additionally the sleeper pads supplied byGetzner required no changes to theinstallation programme, methodology or equipment for the track renewal. Overall, the use of Getzner sleeper
pads on this project has been a greatsuccess”, stated Mike Barlow, Principal Project Engineer from London
Underground.

“A signiicant reduction in groundborne vibration has been achieved ina number of neighbouring properties.

Illustration of the installed sleeper with pad

Concrete sleeper

Lateral Sylodyn® bearing with
geotextile protection layer

Sylodyn® sleeper pad with
geotextile protection layer

Facts and igures at a glanceDistrict Line/Circle Line track renovation between High Street Kensington and Paddington
Track length:

approx. 2.5 km

Order details

Innovation:
Client:Operator:
Project manager:
Completion:
Sleeper manufacturer:
Construction company:

Padding of 8,000 sleepers
7,000 full-surface sleeper pads for concrete sleepers,
1,000 for timber sleepers
Additional elastic bearings on the ends of the sleepers
London Underground/CEMEX Rail Products
London Underground/Transport for London
Lukas Mayer
August 2011
CEMEX Rail Products
Balfour Beatty

Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH

Railway references (extract)

Foundation:— Channel Tunnel Rail Link (UK)— Thameslink, Blackfriars Bridge (UK)
— Crossrail, London (UK)
— Extension of the East London Line (UK)
— Marmaray Tunnel, Istanbul (TR)— Gautrain, Johannesburg (SA)— Attiko Metro, Athens (GR)— Metro, Madrid (ES)— New York City Subway (USA)1969 (as a subsidiary of Getzner,
Mutter & Cie)
Chief Executive Oficer: Ing. Jürgen Rainalter
Employees:
380
2016 turnover:
EUR 80.4 million
Business areas:
Railway, construction, industry
Headquarter:
Bürs (AT)
Locations:
Berlin (DE), Munich (DE), Stuttgart(DE), Lyon (FR), Amman (JO),Tokyo (JP), Pune (IN), Beijing (CN),Kunshan (CN), Charlotte (US)
Ratio of exports:
90 %AUSTRIA — Bürs GERMANY — Berlin — Munich — Stuttgart FRANCE — Lyon
JAPAN — Tokyo INDIA — Pune CHINA — Beijing USA — Charlotte

JORDAN — Amman
www.getzner.com

CS LU en © Copyright by Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH | 10-2017

Scope of the order: