03.12.2024 | Aluminium Association

On November 28, a themed session dedicated to modular construction was held as part of the Kuibyshev Railway Innovation Week. During the session, representatives of the Aluminium Association and the ALUMS member company shared their experience in developing projects for Russian Railways facilities based on examples already implemented in related industries.

The advantages of using aluminium as a material for load-bearing structures include project savings at the construction and installation stages. For the construction of, for example, bridges or pre-fabricated structures, cranes of lower capacity are required, and a minimum number of experts are involved, which is also important in conditions of a talent shortage. Aluminium, which is resistant to corrosion and easy to use, enables a significant reduction in the costs associated with the ongoing operation of the structure, as metal constructions do not need frequent maintenance or repainting. Even after the structure has been used, there is an opportunity to recoгз some of the costs. All this balances out a minor increase in the cost of the initial construction of objects.

Special attention was paid to standard pre-fabricated solutions that do not require expensive design and expertise, which allows for a quicker start of construction. This opens up new opportunities for the creation and renovation of transport infrastructure, including pedestrian bridges, noise screens, railway stations, terminals, ticket offices, bus stops, etc. For example, the construction of a pedestrian bridge over railway tracks requires a train traffic stoppage of less than 6 hours, which significantly reduces downtime and ensures continuity.

Alexey Laukart, co-founder of ALUMS, noted that modern technologies for the construction of temporary structures allow simultaneous construction of the structure and connection of the necessary equipment. Consequently, a structure comparable to permanent buildings is constructed within a few weeks. Thanks to the use of corrosion-free aluminium, this can be particularly relevant for regions with rapidly changing weather conditions. The scope of application is also not limited; it includes technical premises, infrastructure facilities, temporary heated railway stations, mobile healthcare complexes, etc. Representatives of the Kuibyshev Railway noted that such prefabricated shelters and tourist infrastructure facilities can be implemented in the near and medium term.

'Russian Railways not only is the largest carrier of the railway network; it also has a huge public infrastructure that ensures the daily comfort and safety of hundreds of thousands of passengers, motorists and pedestrians across the country. Russian companies are ready to participate in the implementation of railway station renovation projects and the creation of a comfortable and safe infrastructure. Aluminium solutions can also be widely used in the development of the High-Speed Railway project,' says Irina Kazovskaya, Chair of the Aluminium Association.