Media centre

Friday 17 Nov 2006

£55 MILLION INVESTMENT IN LINCOLN’S RAILWAY

Region & Route:

A £55 million investment programme that will completely renew the railway through the centre of Lincoln, has been announced by Network Rail. Starting next spring, the track and signalling through the centre of the city will be renewed, the track layout will be improved, and a new state-of-the-art signalling control centre will be built at West Holmes.

Network Rail Route Director Dyan Crowther said: “This project represents a major investment in the area, and will give Lincoln a brand new railway fit for the 21st century. The new track and signalling will benefit passengers with a more reliable service. Improvements to the track layout and the removal of several speed restrictions will speed trains up and reduce the amount of the time the city’s level crossing barriers need to be lowered.” Work on the project starts in April 2007. Several closures of the railway through the city will be necessary in the summers of 2007 and 2008 to allow engineers to install the new track and signalling. During these periods there will also be some short term level crossing closures. Network Rail is working closely with train operators, local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the closures are well planned, and that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum. Dyan Crowther added: “We’ve listened carefully to people in Lincoln and the train operators to ensure we are able to carry out this important work with the minimum disruption to passengers, motorists and pedestrians. For example a lot of the work will take place over the summer during the school and University holidays when there is less traffic on the roads.” The new track and signalling will be operational by September 2008, and the project will be completed in early 2009. Central Trains Managing Director Steve Banaghan said: ' We welcome this scheme which will be a significant contribution to rail transport in Lincolnshire, establishing a solid foundation for the future. As the principle train operator we will be working with Network Rail to achieve the optimum benefit for passengers" Lincolnshire County Council highways officer Dave Underwood added: “Lincolnshire County Council is working closely with Network Rail with a view to minimising the effect of these works on the travelling public in the City. “The major works have been planned during the summer school holidays when traffic levels across the city are at their lowest. We will work together with Network Rail to ensure road closures are kept to an absolute minimum and where necessary these will be clearly advertised in advance with alternative routes signed appropriately. “Once these works are complete the improved track and signals will result in a more reliable service which will include a reduction in the barrier down times at the level crossings, thereby reducing delays to motorists and pedestrians.”