Media centre

Tuesday 25 Aug 2015

Network Rail invites residents to learn more about improvements to the River Stour and Avon viaducts

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Network Rail will be holding a drop in session on Monday September 7 to information local people about the upcoming project to carry out essential maintenance to the River Stour and River Avon viaducts.

The work will not only ensure the viaducts are fit for purpose for many years to come, but also allow a speed restriction between Hinton Admiral and Christchurch Stations to be lifted, allowing trains to travel at a top speed of 60mph again.

Michele Swan, Network Rail scheme project manager said: “Speed restrictions were introduced as both of these viaducts are around 130 years old and there were concerns that trains travelling at full speed could damage the track support system.  This essential maintenance will not only allow us to lift that restriction but it will also extend the life span of these historic structures.”

Network Rail has scheduled the 12-month project to cause as little impact on services and residents as possible, but in order to improve this section of the railway some disruption and disturbance is unavoidable.

The work starts at the beginning of September, but the major part of the project will not be undertaken until late December.  As a result from the evening of 24th December 2015 through to the 4th January 2016 there will be no trains running between New Milton and Branksome.

Michele added: “We would like reassure people that we are doing everything we can to minimise the disruption that this project will cause.  We appreciate there will still be an impact on residents and would encourage anyone who is concerned to come to the drop-in session to find out more. “

During the project, Network Rail will make every effort to minimise any unnecessary noise. Noise mitigation methods will include acoustic screens formed using proprietary noise curtains and timber screens and limiting noisy operations to day time working only where possible.  Furthermore, those working on site are briefed on working responsibly in the local community.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The community drop-in session will take place on Monday September 7 between 15:30 and 20:00 at Druitt Hall, High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AJ.
• The works will take place at the following locations.
  • The Viaduct over the Stour River, approximately 300m to the West of Christchurch Station.
  • The Viaduct over the Avon River, approximately 500m to the East of Christchurch Station.