Ballast Board & Retention
Our GRP Ballast Board & Retention System provides a modern, low-maintenance solution for managing ballast, spoil, and earth retention across rail environments. Designed to replace traditional steel or concrete retention walls, the system combines lightweight GRP boards with galvanised steel posts and Anchor Screw foundations to deliver a durable, fast-installing, and cost-effective alternative.
Suitable for use across trackside, access areas, embankments, and safe-cess extensions, the system ensures reliable containment in locations where traditional construction methods can be slow, expensive, or impractical. With an advanced lifespan, excellent environmental resistance, and compatibility with existing rail infrastructure, it is a trusted solution for both temporary and permanent works.
Key Advantages
Challenges with Traditional Methods
Traditional ballast and spoil retention systems that use concrete, steel, or sheet piling often introduce:
Heavy components requiring lifting equipment
Slow installation and curing delays
Higher maintenance costs due to corrosion
Increased installation costs where sheet piling is required
Difficult scheduling in restricted possessions
Key Advantages of Our Ballast Board & Retention System
Our system overcomes these challenges with a fast, durable, and low-maintenance design. Key benefits include:
Rapid installation with no wet trades required
No curing time, enabling immediate loading and programme efficiency
Typically up to 10 metres installed per hour
Manufactured in Britain from recycled S275-grade steel
Galvanised to BS EN ISO1461 for a 100+ year design life
Suitable for a wide range of ground conditions
GRP boards that are corrosion-resistant, UV stable, and fire-resistant (Class B)
High strength-to-weight ratio with excellent impact resistance
Electrically and thermally insulating for improved rail safety
Lightweight, easy to cut, handle, and replace
Minimal lifetime maintenance with a design life of up to 50 years
How Our Products Are Used for This Application
The Ballast Board & Retention System is engineered for efficient deployment in rail environments where access is limited and installation windows are short.
The process involves:
Installing Anchor Screw Foundations
Driven into the ground using handheld hydraulic equipment—no heavy machinery required.Fixing Steel Ballast Board Posts
Posts are secured to the foundations and positioned to allow linear installations, curves, and directional changes.Attaching GRP Ballast Boards
Boards are bolted to the post system to create a strong, uniform retention structure.Optional Integration
Handrails for safe working areas
Additional boards for increased height
Adaptations for steps, gaps, or variable ground profiles
Installation can typically be completed within a single shift depending on the length of the works. With no curing delays or water usage, the system is ideal for rapid mobilisation and reactive works.
Which Products Are Used for This Application
Anchor Screw Foundations
Provide the primary structural support, enabling rapid, straightforward installation in a wide range of soil types. Their deep-set design ensures strong retention performance under load.
Steel Ballast Board Posts
Available in multiple lengths and orientations to suit straight runs, corners, directional changes, and elevation variations.
GRP Ballast Boards
Lightweight but extremely strong, the GRP boards provide long-term retention performance with high resistance to weathering, chemicals, impact, and UV exposure. Their insulating properties also provide enhanced safety for work near live rail.
Types of This Application We Can Work With
The system is versatile across rail environments and suitable for:
Spoil and debris retention around LOC platforms, access routes, and landings
Safe-cess extensions and edge barriers along trackside
Retaining walls up to 1.2m high
Ballast containment at the tops or toes of embankments
Delineation and perimeter control for safe working areas
Slope retention near tracks, walkways, and critical infrastructure
Whether for short-term maintenance works or permanent infrastructure upgrades, the system provides a robust and adaptable solution.
FAQs
01
Can the system be installed manually?
Yes. All components are designed for manual handling and installation using handheld hydraulic tools—no cranes or lifting equipment are required.
02
Is the system suitable for uneven or sloping ground?
Yes. The modular post arrangement allows the system to follow gradients and adapt to challenging ground conditions.
03
Are the GRP boards suitable for long-term external exposure?
Absolutely. The boards are UV-stable, corrosion-resistant, non-slip, and designed to withstand temperature changes and chemical exposure, making them ideal for long-term outdoor use.
Get to know more about the product
Our Anchor Screw brochure provides full technical specifications, loading capacities, installation guidance, and project examples to support your planning and design process.
Explore Anchor Screw Foundations
Looking to strengthen your next ballast or spoil retention project? Our Anchor Screw Foundations provide the fast, reliable and low-maintenance base that makes this system so effective.
Visit our Anchor Screw page to learn how the range works, view technical details, and see how Anchor Screws integrate seamlessly with Ballast Board & Retention applications.