Tested on the Tracks: How the Gen3 Cable Trough Earned Network Rail Acceptance

The freeze-thaw test involved placing the prototype trough in place on a live Network Rail project in Liverpool with its performance against the elements and its proximity to a working railway, measured over a 12-month period.

The Gen3 Trough has been designed to simplify installation, without compromising on all of the established product features that has made Ibstock Anderton troughing the recognised standard in rail infrastructure projects for decades.

Each trough unit is under 25kg to meet the one-man lift requirement which make the units easy to manoeuvre into position quickly and efficiently, was developed at our Northwich site, applying years of technical expertise in concrete technology.

Members of the Network Rail team had shown an early interest in the development of the product, sponsoring the Gen3 Trough through the product acceptance process.

Working with the latest in concrete technology, Ibstock Anderton developed a way to create a lighter unit that didn’t compromise on tensile strength, while allowing for no digging-in or ground excavation, no time-consuming realignment, when on site. In addition, the trough uses concrete lids with no screws required for quick fit and forget installation.

Furthermore, the Gen3 Trough is manufactured using a lower carbon concrete formulation which is a key consideration for many projects that are required to meet carbon reduction targets as the UK rail network looks to achieve a more sustainable future.

With Network Rail Product Acceptance Gen3 Troughs can be purchased by Network Rail or its agents, suppliers and contractors for use in rail infrastructure projects.

The Gen3 Trough is available C/1/9 specifications, and like all Ibstock Anderton troughing is UK manufactured which means a continuity of supply and speed of delivery, alongside reduced transport overheads.