Van Elle's Rail team has completed the design and installation of Circular Hollow Section (CHS) piles to carry new overhead line equipment (OLE) at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire, as part of broader site upgrades.

Once fully operational, the enhanced facility will support the development and testing of next‑generation electric and multi‑mode trains and features the UK’s only 3.5 km test loop. Working alongside Siemens, the foundations enable new battery charging and electrification systems to expand the site's innovation and sustainable transport capabilities.

Van Elle's in‑house designers produced a solution tailored to local ground conditions and Siemens’ technical requirements, optimising each pile for strength and stability while minimising environmental impact. Early collaboration with Siemens led to a buildable, cost‑effective scheme that integrated with wider works, lowered on‑site risks and kept the programme on track.

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Using Movax and hammer attachments, the team installed 88 CHS OLE foundations—each 610 mm in diameter and between 4 and 6 metres long—across three phases. Phase one delivered 21 foundations, 4–5 metres in length, using a mix of 6‑boss head and drilled head configurations to suit different OLE structures. Phase two added 57 foundations up to 6 metres, including single‑length piles with boss heads and several drilled for pile cap adaptors. The final visit, scheduled around underpass works, installed 10 single‑section, bossed 610 mm piles at depths of 5–6 metres. All works were completed safely, efficiently and to programme.

The foundations support Siemens' ongoing infrastructure upgrades at Long Marston, enhancing the site’s ability to deliver low‑carbon and digital rail solutions where routes lack existing electrification and reinforcing the centre’s role in testing emerging rail technologies. Siemens commended the team’s rapid mobilisation, cost‑effective delivery and collaborative approach on site.

Mark Boyd, Van Elle Rail Director, said: "We are delighted to play our part in this major redevelopment project. It supports innovation and sustainable rail infrastructure, and showcases the strength of collaboration and technical expertise that Van Elle brings to rail projects across the UK."