scope:

INTRODUCTION TO STANDARD DESIGNS AND DETAILS

The development of the Standard Designs and Details (SDD) has been undertaken by Network Rail to improve safety, asset reliability and increase efficiency. Their development is linked to Network Rail's overall business objectives to improve reliability of the railways and reduce the funding requirements for the on-going management and maintenance. The basis of the SDD focuses on two main areas that derive from these issues:

• Ensuring that the design meets Network Rail's requirements
• The design is as successful as the designs of previous railway engineers, who built and maintained bridges that have given good service for approaching 150 years.