Manchester Metrolink switches and crossings supplied by Corus Cogifer
17 Apr 2009
As part of the Manchester city centre improvements, Corus Cogifer have supplied all the switch and crossing layouts to renew the Piccadilly Gardens Delta Junction area.
The complex layout consists of 6 Turnouts and 3 unique Diamond Crossings. All the units have been manufactured by Corus Cogifer’s sister company and specialist tramway manufacturing company Kihn who are based in Luxembourg. Additionally, a lift-over crossover has been supplied to be installed in Aytoun Street. This crossover is similar in design to the one which has been installed at Nottingham to reduce noise and vibration.
Both the switches and crossings for all the Piccadilly Gardens turnouts have been manufactured using the Cogidur system which uses a machined hardened steel block (in excess of 380BH at the surface) to form both the crossing and also the body and switch blade. This specialist design is very robust and low maintenance, incorporating switch blades which can be easily replaced, and fully adjustable UIC33 design check rails.
Corus Cogifer have also manufactured all of the pre-curved rails for installation at Piccadilly Gardens and other locations throughout Manchester city centre.
The switch and crossing units are to be installed throughout the summer with the work expected to be completed in November.
