Great progress being made on the Network Rail Reading Independent Feeder Project!

Great progress being made on the Network Rail Reading Independent Feeder Project!

February 21, 2023

Enable Infrastructure recently finished all lineside civil works are now complete between Reading and the new substation site at Holly Cross, near Bramley.

As such, it’s full steam ahead on constructing the new Auto Transformer Feeder Site (ATFS) at Holly Cross which begun earlier this month, and as the pictures demonstrate, with a foundation concrete pour. In total 90 cubic metres of concrete (C40 + Fibre) was poured.

The ATFS is due for completion by May after works commenced upon issuance of a dormouse licence from Natural England. Once fully constructed with suitable drainage and fencing, it will then be fitted out with the electric power systems designed to interconnect with the neighbouring National Grid installation.

It has been a real Enable team effort to date, highlighting our Team of Teams ethos, with both Enable Design and Enable Resourcing being collaborative partners on this project. Enable Design have provided the interface design on Section 278 permanent access into the Holly Cross site, while Enable Resourcing have been a key supplier of a labour, alongside McGarry Construction Ltd.

The RIF project is a constituent project of Wales and Western Capital Delivery. This project will deliver an independent high voltage (HV) electricity supply (25-0-25kV) to the existing Reading ATFS via construction of a new ATFS at Holly Cross.

Holly Cross ATFS is to be fed via a new supply from Bramley National Grid 400kV site. A new low-level HV cable route shall be laid alongside the railway cess from Holly Cross ATFS to supply Reading ATFS, over a lineside distance of approximately 17 km.