Media centre

Wednesday 19 Nov 2003

£380,000 SPEND TO IMPROVE THE SOUTHAMPTON TO ST DENYS LINE

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail has invested £380,000 improving the tracks on the Southampton to St Denys line.  As part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuilding the railway engineers worked around the clock to renew 440 yards of track and improve drainage on the length of the line between St Denys and Southampton stations. Continuously welded rail with concrete sleepers replaced jointed rail, using a total of 1,320 tonnes of ballast, 616 sleepers and 880 yards of rail.  Passengers can now expect a smoother, quieter and more reliable journey. The Construction Partnership (a partnership between Geoffrey Osborne and Network Rail) carried out the drainage improvement work, which was completed on time and to budget. This vital safety related work will improve drainage on the line, reducing potential delays to services and thus bringing long-term benefits to passengers. All work carried out was subject to an environmental and ecological survey to ensure that protected species were not disturbed during the work.  The work was specifically programmed to take place at the weekends to ensure that peak commuter travel periods remained unaffected. Network Rail and South West Trains worked together, ensuring passengers were notified well in advance. The contractors worked to an agreed code of practice to notify residents in advance of the work and to ensure that noise and disruption to local residents was kept to an absolute minimum.             Network Rail’s Southern Regional Director, Robin Gisby said: “This work forms part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuild Britain’s railway. We appreciate that passengers using the line expect an improved service and this investment is a step to delivering the service they rightly deserve.”