Background

Hitachi Rail Europe’s first European train manufacturing facility is located at North East Technology Park (NETPark) in County Durham. Developed to support the Department for Transport’s Intercity Express Programme and future Hitachi Rail projects, the 43,000m² factory forms part of an £82 million investment to create a state of the art rail manufacturing hub in the North East of England.

As a key strategic site for Hitachi Rail’s long term growth, the external infrastructure needed to combine operational resilience, safety and accessibility, while reflecting the significance of the facility.

The challenge

The site accommodates frequent movements of large and heavy vehicles, requiring external works solutions with high load bearing capability and robust vehicle containment.

In addition, the factory is set within a large, predominantly flat paved area, creating a requirement for effective surface water drainage to support site safety and long term performance.

Alongside the operational demands, pedestrian areas around the building frontage needed to be clearly defined, accessible and visually appropriate for a flagship industrial facility.

The solution

Marshalls supplied an integrated kerb, drainage and paving solution designed to address the competing demands of heavy vehicle operation, drainage performance and pedestrian safety.

For pedestrian areas along the building frontage, Saxon natural paving was selected to provide a safe, durable and visually appealing finish, with flexibility in size and thickness to suit the scheme. Standard kerbs were also incorporated as drop kerbs, supporting compliant wheelchair access between disabled parking bays and pedestrian routes.

Across the car parking areas and perimeter roads, Marshalls Beany Kerb and Beany Block Linear Drainage were specified, providing a combined kerb and drainage solution with medium to high flow capacity. This helped manage surface water effectively across large paved areas while reducing the number of separate drainage interfaces.

To manage the high volume of deliveries and vehicle movements, Titan Kerb was installed at the gatehouse entrance and servicing routes. As a high containment kerb system, Titan Kerb is designed to redirect errant vehicles and prevent overrun into vulnerable adjacent areas, supporting passive traffic control and improved segregation between vehicles and pedestrians.

The outcome

The completed scheme delivers a robust and coordinated external works solution that supports the operational demands of a major rail manufacturing facility.

  • Heavy duty kerbing and containment systems manage vehicle movements and protect pedestrian areas
  • Integrated kerb and drainage systems improve surface water management across the site
  • Clearly defined pedestrian routes enhance safety, accessibility and visual quality at the building frontage

Together, Marshalls’ products have helped create a safer, more resilient external environment, contributing to passive traffic control, improved drainage performance and long term durability for this strategically important site.