Merchant Park – Sitewide Infrastructure

TGA were employed to develop the 26ha Merchant Park site located next to the Darlington to Bishop Auckland railway and to build a new assembly plant for Hitachi Rail Europe. TGA were involved in the project from the outset until completion in the summer of 2015.

TGA were required to arrange for new infrastructure services to support the site including:

• an 11kV ring to serve the site via 10 substations
• a separate 8MVA, 132kV traction supply required for trains to be energised and tested
• new telephone and data connectivity
• new gas services infrastructure
• new water services including fire mains

This started with the preparation of load assessments enabling contact with the utility services providers to ascertain the nature, capability and limitations of their networks.

Particular challenges included:

• The need to enhance the local utility networks to provide the required supply capacities
• The 132kV traction supply needed to be brought from Darlington primary substation 5km away, crossing the A1(M) en-route
• Timing the utility reinforcement works to to coincide with the availability of funding
• All services needed to cross the Darlington to Bishop Auckland railway line
• Liaison with railway and highway authorities
• Agreement of wayleaves