Dyer & Butler extending Heathrow's jet fuel offloading facilities at Colnbrook

Posted on 3 April, 2019 by Advance 

Dyer & Butler has been commissioned by the British Pipeline Agency (BPA) to extend the existing jet fuel offloading facilities at Colnbrook Rail Terminal, owned by Total UK, serving Heathrow Airport.
Courtesy Dyer & Butler


The Colnbrook Rail Terminal incorporates a rail offloading facility and a 1.9km 12” pipeline feeding the Northern Fuel Receipt Facility at London Heathrow Airport. The terminal receives Jet A-1 product by freight train from oil refineries. The fuel is then transported onwards to Heathrow Airport’s Northern Fuel Receipt Facility via the Colnbrook Pipeline. The platform extension was needed to facilitate an increase of fuel wagons per delivery as an alternative to running more weekly rail deliveries of aviation fuel.

A tight, seven week programme was agreed for the construction of the 91m platform extension. To safely and successfully undertake works on time, Dyer & Butler had over 30 experienced operatives on-site at the same time, overseen in an area just 4.5m wide from the tracks to the adjacent fencing.

The work was undertaken over a six-day week, plus night shifts, and included de-vegetation, excavation, sheet piling, drainage, concrete works, new handrails and fencing. Due to work being carried out within the track support zone of the rails (the ground area affected by the transferred load from the loco and wagons weight onto the tracks), tests were carried out to determine the concrete strength required by Network Rail for normal offloading operations. Once the concrete was approved and the early strength tested, the works within the track support zone, including concrete pouring, were carried out. This took place between Friday, following the last train departure, and Sunday evening, before the first arrival on Monday.

Following this, a non-destructive test on the hardened concrete was successfully completed and documented for Network Rail’s approval. During the last stages of the project, Dyer & Butler worked alongside on-site BPA contractors carrying out the mechanical installation of the offloading systems. As Principal Contractor, to ensure all works proceeded safely, Dyer & Butler worked with the contractor regarding their RAMS (Risk and Method Statement) and their joint activities sequence to avoid any clashes, and to guarantee that all works were carried out safely.

Dyer & Butler aviation director Mark Foster adds: “The extension to this platform will allow a more economic and efficient way for Heathrow to transport its fuel, benefitting not only its teams but also millions of customers. We were proud to be Principal Contractor on this project and have it finished it a timely and safe manner”