COLAS Rail uses Safetech Fence on major Czech railway reconstruction
COLAS Rail played a key role in bringing Safetech Fence to the Czech railway market. The company took the lead in the certification process with Správa železnic and, following successful certification, ordered 4,000 metres of Safetech Fence. The system has now been in active use by COLAS Rail for more than a year, including on the major reconstruction of the Kyjice–Chomutov railway line.
A cooperation that started with certification
The cooperation between COLAS Rail and Rail Safety Constructions started well before any Safetech Fence was delivered.
When RSC started the certification process for Safetech Fence in the Czech Republic, COLAS Rail took the lead in the process with Správa železnic. With their knowledge of the Czech railway market, the local language and the people and procedures within the railway sector, COLAS Rail coordinated the certification process together with RSC.
This included the technical documentation and practical assessment of the Mechanical Safetech Fence with Správa železnic. As part of the process, the system was assessed against the applicable requirements, including EN 16704-2-2, ultimately resulting in certification for use on the Czech railway infrastructure.
Following certification, COLAS Rail placed an order for 4,000 metres of Safetech Fence.
This makes the cooperation particularly valuable to RSC. COLAS Rail was not simply the customer that ordered the system after certification; they played a key role in getting Safetech Fence certified in the Czech Republic in the first place.
The system has now been in active use by COLAS Rail for more than a year, and they are satisfied with both the system and the quality of the equipment supplied.
Safetech Fence on the Kyjice–Chomutov reconstruction
Safetech Fence is being used on the Rekonstrukce trati v úseku Kyjice – Chomutov, a major railway reconstruction project carried out by COLAS CZ and COLAS Rail for Správa železnic.
The project covers almost eight kilometres of double-track railway between Kyjice and Chomutov město and forms part of the important railway connection between Ústí nad Labem and Cheb.
The reconstruction includes extensive track works, modernisation of stations and stops, infrastructure improvements and measures to increase line speed and operational safety. Construction started in 2024 and is scheduled to continue until 2027.
It is exactly the type of long-term railway project for which Safetech Fence was developed: creating a clear physical separation between railway workers and operational tracks while allowing the barrier system to be installed, removed and reused efficiently.
No digging – a major advantage in winter
For COLAS Rail, one of the main practical advantages of Safetech Fence is its installation method.
No digging or ballast disturbance is required.
The Mechanical Safetech Fence is attached directly to the existing rail fastening system. There is no need to excavate the ballast or insert components into it.
This provides an advantage throughout the year, but becomes particularly valuable during the Czech winter months. Frozen or compacted ballast can make the installation of conventional barrier systems that depend on digging considerably more difficult.
Because Safetech Fence does not rely on the condition of the ballast, the installation principle remains the same throughout the different seasons.
The system can also be installed and removed from one side of the track, reducing the need to cross the track during installation. A two-person team can install 100 metres in under 10 minutes, while the relatively low component weight helps reduce physical effort for the installation team.
Built for repeated railway use
Speed of installation is only part of the equation. For contractors using temporary physical barriers across multiple railway projects, durability and reusability are equally important.
Safetech Fence is built from robust steel, aluminium and glass-fibre reinforced components and is designed for repeated installation, removal and transport. Under normal use and maintenance, the system has an expected service life of more than 10 years.
For COLAS Rail, this combines fast installation and no ballast disturbance with the quality and durability required for repeated use in day-to-day railway construction.
After more than a year of active use, their experience with Safetech Fence remains positive.
From certification to everyday use
What started as close technical cooperation during the Czech certification process has developed into a long-term partnership. Today, 4,000 metres of Safetech Fence are in use by COLAS Rail on Czech railway projects.
For RSC, the cooperation provides a strong real-world reference for Safetech Fence on the Czech railway network.
A physical barrier between people and moving trains.
Fast to install. No digging. No ballast disturbance. Built for repeated railway use.
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