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Sunday 22 Mar 2009

£16.2m INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE DONCASTER - SCUNTHORPE LINE

Region & Route:

More than £16m is being invested on the railway between Scunthorpe and Doncaster this summer as Network Rail looks to complete several complicated improvement works over just 11 weeks.

The line needs work to mitigate drainage issues in the Medge Hall area. Up until now trains have been limited to running at 10mph on that stretch of track.

Now engineers are spending £10m building a structure to carry the rail clear of the affected area. It is not possible to run any trains over the line while this is being done. This means that no direct passenger services will run between Doncaster and Cleethorpes from 11.45pm on Sunday 21June to 4am Monday 7 September. Freight services will be affected for the same period between Scunthorpe and Thorne junction.

Richard Lungmuss, route director for Network Rail said: "This substantial investment will make this route more robust for the future and allow trains to run at line speed for the first time in many years. Unfortunately it is impossible to do the work without closing the line to rail traffic. In order to minimise disruption to passengers we are undertaking several other works at the same time - making the total investment in the line around £16m. I hope that passengers will consider the short-term inconvenience worthwhile in terms of the long terms benefits that this investment will bring."

Maintenance works worth £several million will be carried out while the Medge Hall engineering work is being completed. Network Rail will also completely renew a junction at Thorne, an investment worth around £6.2m.

Technical information

The Medge Hall structure will be made up of a concrete platform which is supported by over a thousand piles, which are driven into the solid ground below the peat. The piles are designed to be bottom driven - making the process as quiet as possible. They also use less concrete than conventional piles, meaning less lorries to site and the lowest possible impact on the environment.

Everything possible is being done to minimise the impact on the local community. The site will be in operation 24hours a day but only the quietest operations taking place during the night. Driving in the piles will only be carried out during the daytime.

Where possible materials are being delivered to site by canal - keeping traffic through Crowle village to a minimum. Local residents will be kept informed of our plans by letter. Anyone with any concerns should contact Network Rail's 24-hour helpline on 08457 11 41 41.