In 2019, a service contract was signed for the establishment of railway storage lines in the Tisza Refinery in Tiszaújváros. In addition, the Contractor, HOMLOK Zrt., was charged with the construction of the eastern connecting track as well as the preparation of related permit drawings and construction plans.
After the contract was signed, preparatory work and planning began. Due to the complexity of the project and the hazardous nature of the plant, we had to comply with a number of regulations and features during construction that were different from the standard railway environment, but were required for reasons of safety.
The project’s main technical content:
- Zone I: construction of a new western scale track and a 120 t capacity scale
- Zone II: construction of the western turnout track
- Zone III: extension of the central track network and extension of the pedestrian overpass
- Zone IV: construction of new eastern turnout tracks
- Zone V: extension of the north-eastern turnout track
- Zone VI: construction of a new storage line with one turnout
- Zone IX: Construction of a connecting track between the MOL TIFO and MPK sites
- Zone EO-PO: construction of new unloading lines with one turnout
- adaptation of the signalling system and spatial lighting to the new geometry
- preparation of related permit drawings and construction plans
The construction plans included several construction zones. Actual construction works began in August 2020 with the implementation of the technical content required for Zone I and II. This phase was completed during the one-month period of track closure. The railway track was temporarily handed over to traffic on 10 September 2020, while turnouts no. 1 and 11 were handed over to traffic on 24 February 2021. The conversion and spatial lighting works of the signalling system in these zones, the construction of static and dynamic track scales as well as the construction of the ditch, the drain and the track benches were also completed on time.
Work in Zone IX was also started in 2020, and the completed turnouts were temporarily handed over to traffic before the end of the year.
The construction of the railway track was also completed, and the handover of the entire zone took place at the end of the project. The reconstruction of the associated signalling system, spatial lighting works as well as the construction of the ditch and the track benches were also completed. All works related to track construction in Zone IX were completed. These included the construction of a fence and a railway gate, the construction of a STRAIL road crossing, and the correction of the approximately 90-meter long section of the M3 road, which was necessary due to the new railway route.
Upon completion of work in Zone IX, the track connection between the MOL TIFO and the MOL MPK plants was realised.
Zone VI involved similar works related to the construction of tracks and turnouts, which were completed in 2020. As part of these works, spatial lighting was installed, track benches were constructed, and the tracks were dewatered. The relocation of the fire-extinguishing point and the replacement of about a hundred meters of the fire-extinguishing water line were also carried out in Zone VI.
In addition to the completed zones, several workflows were completed in 2021 throughout the entire project period.
In Zone III, the expansion of the central track network was one of the central elements, together with the construction of the 12 group turnouts. Since this work was done on time, turnouts no. 16 and 20 were temporarily handed over to traffic in mid-May 2021.
An interesting trivia about the construction is that the GEISMAR S2PV track laying technology was used for the first time in this project. The units made for this purpose were delivered to Homlok Zrt’s premises by the French manufacturer at the request of the company.
During the construction of the railway track, the pre-tied 24-meter track panels and turnouts were laid by the GEISMAR machine chain, after which the track panels were connected with bracers. Compared to earlier technologies, this technology makes work much easier.
The conversion and spatial lighting works of the signalling system related to the construction of Zone III, the construction of track benches, the extension and conversion of the overpass, the required utility relocation works, the construction of drains and the STRAIL road crossing were also completed on time.
In Zone IV and V, the task was to extend the turnout track and build a new storage line. Here too, the pre-tied track panels and turnouts were laid by the GEISMAR machine chain. We also performed track regulation works in connection with the railway track. The conversion and spatial lighting works of the signalling system related to this zone will be completed in the course of the summer.
In the EO-PO zone, the task was to construct nearly 300 meters of two unloading tracks and one turnout. Track XVIII was completed in the summer of 2021, and the related works, such as the construction of level crossings and drains, was also finished in September.
Overall, construction works proceeded according to the pre-defined schedule. Under the contract, the entire technical content had to be completed by the end of November 2021. The progress of construction works and the application of the new technology for track construction were inspected by the leaders of the client and the contractor in a joint site visit at the end of May. It was established on site that the construction was progressing in a timely manner and the works were completed in the quality required by the client.
From the very beginning, the employees of Homlok Zrt working on site successfully adapted to the special circumstances and safety requirements in their daily work, in a disciplined manner, and the employees of MOL Nyrt provided all the support they needed. Once implemented, the project will provide a complex track network to the client and the operator, reflecting the philosophy of Homlok Zrt. and its commitment to quality.
