EARL Works

This section details ongoing and planned works, with further specifications by area and date where available.

While tie make every effort to carry out works on the proposed date, circumstances beyond our control can arise which can cause delays or extend the duration of some works.

For further details about works in your area please contact us at info@earlproject.com.

Ground Investigation Works

Ground Investigstion (GI) Works have been undertaken in stages with the first phase consisting of well spaced boreholes and trial pits throughout the route to build up a picture of the ground model to assist in the completion of the outline design.

Phase 2 was far more detailed and comprehensive, with investigation locations on railway and BAA infrastructure and a variety of testing and sampling techniques used. Fugro Engineering Services were appointed to undertake the works which included extensive Geophysical Surveys of the Airport area, Cone Penetration tests, MOSTAP sampling and Rotary and Cable Percussive Drilling.

The third phase of Ground Investigation (GI) for EARL swung into action in March. The purpose of phase three is to take additional samples in areas where the project team required further information after the analysis of the phase two results. This phase will allow us to assess the ground conditions immediately underneath the proposed railway line. It will therefore take place along the full length of the new line, with particular attention paid to the tunnel location at Edinburgh Airport.

Specialised railway equipment was transported to Edinburgh for the railway possession work.

GI works on airside BAA property involves operational, environmental, security and archaelogical constraints, which are challenging but manageable with the expertise on board.

The third phase of ground investigations will continue through the summer and tie will work closely with BAA and Network Rail throughout this time.

There are a number of specialist techniques and equipment used for the EARL GI:  

Geophysical Survey A Geophysical Survey involves the measurement and interpretation of physical properties of the earth in order to be able to determine subsurface conditions for engineering, geotechnical and environmental investigations. Through the careful utilisation of Geophysical Survey Results in the Catstane area, the EARL team hope to identify the extent of the Catstane burial site.
Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) This has been conducted through the track on the Dalmeny Chord and throughout the length of the tunnel. Cone Penetration Testing involves advancing a steel cylinder with a cone-shaped tip vertically into the ground using powerful hydraulics. The cylinder has a cone-shaped tip and is advanced into the ground using hydraulic pressure. Strain gauges incorporated in the cone measure the pressure on the tip and the side friction exerted by the soil as the cone is advanced into the ground. The soil type is characterised by the readings on the strain gauges. In sand, the tip resistance is high and the side friction is low. Cohesive soils have a comparatively low tip resistance and higher friction. The results are displayed as a log very similar to a borehole geological log showing the soil stratification plotted against depth. Geotechnical engineers use this information to calculate soil strength and other parameters which are used in the engineering design process. CPT has several advantages over traditional methods of ground investigation such as drilling and is often used, in combination with drilling, to supplement the data gathered during a ground investigation. The main advantages are that it is very much faster, allowing a site to be assessed at a significantly lower cost and provides accurate and repeatable results. The data can be transmitted immediately from the field to the office, processed and reported the same day if required. It can penetrate recent sediments such as sands, silts, clays and gravels.	Cone Penetration Drilling Rig

MOSTAP Testing
The MOSTAP sampling equipment is connected to the CPT rods enabling contiguous undisturbed soil samples to be recovered at discrete depths at a test location.

Rotary Coring and and Cable Percussive Drilling Cable percussive drilling is a boring bethod used to construct a borehole. Whether for information concerning the engineering properties of the soil or the determination of the groundwater regime, it can be remarkably accurate when compared to alternative rotary techniques. Rotary coring is used to extend cable percussive boreholes in hard strata. The combined boring techniques are being utilised to take samples of the compacted fill under the runway and to obtain continuous cores from the rock that underlies the EARL route.

Cable Percussive Drilling at the Airport

Results of GI are subject to lengthy analysis, and all samples obtained will be stored to allow ongoing reference which will assist in the design process.

Archaeology on the EARL Route

During feasibility and early design, an assessment of the potential impacts of EARL on items of archaeological and cultural heritage was undertaken, which considered:

• Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs);
• Undesignated sites and areas of archaeological significance;
• Listed Buildings and other features of architectural or historic interest;
• Conservation Areas and other important townscapes; and
• Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes and other significant historic landscapes.

The assessment was undertaken in consultation with a range of bodies with an interest in the conservation of archaeological resources and the historic environment, including Historic Scotland, CEC, CECAS, The National Trust for Scotland, and The Garden History Society in Scotland.

A total of 260 archaeological and heritage sites were identified, which comprised:

• 6 SAMs;
• 144 undesignated sites and areas of archaeological interest;
• 56 Listed Buildings;
• 49 undesignated features of architectural interest;
• 1 Conservation Area;
• 1 area of Special Control, as defined in the Draft West Lothian Local Plan; and
• 2 Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes and one other significant historic designed landscape.

A detailed impact assessment for every site, including construction, cumulative and operational impacts, as well as mitigation measures was carried out for the EARL Environmental Statement.

An Archaeological Investigation in late 2007 will undertake a series of trenches spanning approximately 1m every 20m along the proposed route; if any archaeological remains are identified, the area could be subject to more extensive investigation.

Catstane The Catstane is a rounded boulder, irregularly trapezoidal in cross-section, with a girth at base of 3.65m, standing 1.3m above ground level. It's East face bears an inscription which now reads: IN OC T / MVLO IAC T / VETTA F / VICTR in a style of lettering suggestive of a late 5th or early 6th century date. A tentative reading of the inscription is; "In this tomb lies Vetta, daughter of Victricius". The EARL design included a worst-case-scenario limit of works, which the detailed design stage will refine. It was found that this proposed construction of the new ventilation building, combined with the repositioned airport perimeter fence and access road, would disturb approximately 25% of the Catstane exclusion zone, although not the stone itself. Historic Scotland also felt that there may be a negative impact upon the landscape setting of the standing stone due to the EARL works. It was therefore agreed that in the case of the EARL detailed design being unable to mitigate these effects, or Ground Investigation Works identifying any remins in the area that will be directly affected; tie ltd will excavate the stone and any buried remains around it, and ensure that the stone be preserved and any remains found analysed.

The Catstane

Scheduled Works

Details will be added to this section shortly. In the meantime, if you have any queries about potential works in your area, please contact us on info@earlproject.com.

…That many journey times via the Airport will be unaffected by the additional stop, in fact the journey time on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line and the Edinburgh-Dundee line will be reduced.

September 2007 Following a motion passed in the Scottish Parliament; the EARL project is to be suspended. Work completed to date on the design of EARL will be preserved and archived in a manner which does not close down future options. 20th July 2007 Following a motion passed in the Scottish Parliament on the 27th June; current development work on the EARL Project will be suspended by the end of July 2007. 19th April 2007 The EARL Bill was granted Royal Assent on Thursday the 19th April and is now an Act of Parliament. 14th March 2007 The Scottish Parliament has voted to approve the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill following a debate at Holyrood today 13th February 2007 EARL Consideration Stage Report Praises 'Open and Transparent' tie Limited 6th December 2006 The Assessor Period ends with 18 remaining Objections. The Assessor will report to the Committee in the New Year 11th October 2006 Scottish Power Energy Networks withdraws its objection to EARL 15th September 2006 tie welcomes EARL committe approval 26th June 2006 EARL receives Euro funding boost