Highway and Railway Drainage

At ME Consulting Engineers (MECE), we provide comprehensive design and construction support for highway and railway drainage systems, ensuring that infrastructure operates safely, efficiently, and sustainably under all weather conditions.

With in-depth knowledge of drainage infrastructure, hydrology, and compliance frameworks, our team delivers end-to-end drainage solutions for transport networks across the UK, the Middle East (UAE & Qatar), and Africa

Our Capabilities

We apply a multidisciplinary approach, combining hydrology, civil engineering, and asset management to provide:

  • Hydrological analysis using advanced modelling tools (HEC-HMS, FEH, ReFH2, XP-RAFTS, etc.)
  • Design of railway culverts, bridges, embankment drains, and trackside ditches
  • Design of highway stormwater drainage, including kerb drains, catchpits, and attenuation systems
  • 1D and 2D hydraulic modelling of flood flow paths, culvert performance, and overland flow
  • Development of drainage standards and specifications tailored to client/authority requirements
  • Drainage masterplanning for new or upgraded networks
  • O&M manual development for long-term drainage system performance
  • Staff training and capacity building for client teams, including regulatory and contractor personnel

Expertise Across Regions

United Kingdom

MECE offers full drainage support for:

  • Highways England (National Highways) schemes
  • Network Rail and Light Rail projects
  • Transport Assessments and Drainage Impact Assessments (DIA)
  • Section 278 and 38 highway adoption designs
  • Integration with SuDS, water quality, and climate resilience strategies
  • EA and LLFA consultation

UAE & Qatar

  • Design and review of highway and railway drainage systems in line with DM, RTA, Ashghal, and QCS 2014 guidelines
  • Deep drainage and culvert design under expressways and freight corridors
  • Use of non-disruptive methods for urban drainage beneath active corridors
  • Preparation of drainage master plans for new expressways and metro expansions
  • Roadside stormwater systems integrated with SCADA and real-time monitoring

Africa

  • Drainage design for rural and urban transport infrastructure development
  • Collaboration with municipal governments, including Road Authorities, the World Bank, and donor-funded programs
  • Focus on resilience to extreme events and climate-driven flood scenarios
  • Sustainable solutions using local materials and context-appropriate techniques
  • Capacity building for long-term O&M by public works departments

Our Tools & Software

We work with industry-leading tools, including:

  • InfoDrainage
  • TUFLOW / HEC-RAS / HEC-HMS, InfoWorks ICM, SewerGEMS
  • Civil 3D / AutoCAD / Bentley OpenRoads
  • DRAINS / XPStorm / SWMM
  • Revit / BIM 360 for collaborative design environments

Why Choose MECE?

  • International experience across the UK, UAE, Qatar, and Africa
  • Technical experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and transport drainage
  • Strong relationships with transport authorities and regulatory bodies
  • Proven track record of delivering cost-effective and sustainable solutions
  • Training and documentation to ensure long-term value for our clients