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Donegan Civil Engineering

Pipejack Beneath the West Coast Main Line – Clifton WwTW, Penrith

A 1500mm pipejack beneath the West Coast Main Line, plus a new pumping station shaft underpinned in hard sandstone

By: Valentine Donegan

Published: August 6, 2026

Pipejack Beneath the West Coast Main Line - Clifton WwTW, Penrith

Client: Daniel Contractors / United Utilities

Project Description / Main Operations

V J Donegan & Co Ltd undertook this specialist tunnelling subcontract for Daniel Contractors on a United Utilities scheme at Clifton WwTW, Penrith.

During the crossing, operatives double shifted the drive and track level monitoring was carried out by Network Rail.

Scope and method:

Construction of the new Hackthorpe pumping station – a 6.00m diameter segmental shaft underpinned in hard sandstone to approx. 10m depth.
Construction of a 6.00m diameter drive shaft and a 4.00m diameter reception shaft, both approx. 8m deep, on either side of the West Coast Main Line.
A 1500mm internal diameter pipejack approx. 40m in length beneath the railway line, using an open-face backacter through boulder clay.

For More Information, contact us at http://www.donegan.co.uk

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