Media centre

Friday 31 Mar 2006

£2.5M WORK STARTS ON THE DISTRICT & NORTH LONDON LINE

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

| Southern

A multi-million pound project, starting tonight, will replace essential track and signalling equipment at Gunnersbury in West London to improve its future reliability for rail passengers.  A team of engineers will work around the clock for the next nine days to replace track components at Gunnersbury Junction, where the District and North London Lines meet.  They will also install a new relay room to improve signalling systems, carry out track maintenance and remove graffiti, litter and vegetation to improve the lineside environment.  Jon Wiseman, Network Rail Route Director, said: “The equipment at Gunnersbury Junction is up to 40 years old and needs to be replaced.  This £2.5m investment will ensure the reliability of the busy junction and signalling systems for many years to come, reducing the likelihood of train delays.  The lineside clean-up will also improve the appearance of the railway in this area for passengers and local people.”  The junction work will replace the existing ‘crossover’ at Gunnersbury - the part of the track that allows a train to cross from one line to another – as well as other essential track components.  200 metres of new track will be installed at the junction and a further 1,000 metres of new track at Richmond station.  This will require sections of the District and North London Line to be closed from 2am Saturday 1 April to the early hours of Monday 10 April. Jon Wiseman added: “Over the next nine days our engineers will work around the clock to complete this complex project as quickly and efficiently as possible.  To minimise disruption, we planned the work to coincide with the Easter break when fewer people are expected to travel.  We have also worked closely with train operators to ensure alternative travel arrangements are in place.” Passenger information v            The North London Line will be closed between Richmond and Willesden Junction, affecting passengers travelling by Silverlink Metro v            The District Line will be closed between Richmond and Turnham Green, affecting passengers travelling on London Underground v            South West Trains services through Richmond will not be affected by this work v            Customers are advised to check their travel details in advance with National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or London Travel Information on 020 7222 1234 Alternative travel arrangements (Saturday 1 April – Sunday 9 April): ·               Bus replacement services will operate on the North London Line between Richmond and Acton Central, and between Richmond and Willesden Junction on 1/2 April only ·               District line passengers can make use of South West Trains services from Richmond to London Waterloo (valid tube tickets will be accepted) ·               London Underground trains will be diverted at Richmond to Ealing Broadway and Wimbledon.  Buses will replace trains between Richmond and Turnham Green Posters and leaflets with alternative travel information are available at affected stations and additional Customer Information Assistants will be on hand to assist during the closure.  Information has also been sent to customers by email and published on the train operator websites:  www.silverlink-trains.com and www.tube.tfl.gov.uk.