inno: Emergency access and derailment protection on Water Tower Bridge

Facts

• Location: Water Tower Bridge, Luxembourg
• Period: April – May 2024
• Client: Frateur
• Products: inno
• Length/quantity: Length: 135 m, width: approx. 7.25 m
• Conditions: Bridge featuring two central tram tracks

Advantages

• Independent of sleeper spacing
• Customizable to meet almost any requirement
• Patented high-tech rubber surface with vulcanized corundum ensures excellent slip resistance
• Perfect system for vehicle track access points in maintenance and emergency operations

Project description

The Water Tower Bridge in Luxembourg City is a central traffic junction. It has two tracks, is very busy and is used by cars and the tram at the same time.

Due to this mixed use, a level crossing solution had to be found that combines two critical functions:

1. Emergency functionality: If necessary, the track surface must be designed in such a way that emergency vehicles (fire department, rescue services) can use the railroad tracks as a temporary roadway (emergency access).
2. Traffic safety: It had to be ensured that, in the event of a derailment, the tram would not run into general road traffic and thus cause further accidents.

The robust inno level crossing panels were chosen to line the tram track area. This solution offered the necessary adaptability for the complex bridge situation:

• Enabling emergency access: The panels were laid in such a way that the tram tracks became a drivable surface for emergency and maintenance vehicles.
• Customized work for the bridge: Due to the specific requirements on the bridge, the panels had to be cut exactly to size, which was made possible by inno’s flexible rubber design.
• Integrated derailment protection groove: The most important safety feature is the derailment protection groove, which has been integrated directly into the inno panels for both tracks.

The adaptable inno system on the Wasserturm Bridge fully met all functional and safety requirements. Its installation created a durable, drivable surface in the track area, enabling emergency vehicles to access the rails quickly and safely when needed. At the same time, traffic safety was significantly improved thanks to the integrated derailment protection groove, which prevents a derailing tram from entering road traffic. The robust rubber system is engineered to handle the combined demands of road and rail traffic on the central bridge, ensuring long-term operational reliability.