Media centre

Thursday 27 May 2004

£800,000 SPEND TO IMPROVE THE WOKING TO GUILDFORD LINE

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail has invested over £800,000 improving the tracks on the Woking to Guildford line.  As part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuild the railway, engineers worked around the clock to renew 1,320 yards of track between Woking and Worplesdon stations. Continuously welded rail with concrete sleepers was installed using a total of 4,000 tonnes of ballast, 1,800 sleepers and 2,640 yards of rail. If placed end to end the sleepers would reach nearly three and a half times the height of Ben Nevis.  Passengers can now expect a smoother, quieter and more reliable journey.    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 takle place at the weekends to ensure that peak commuter travel periods remained unaffected. Network Rail and South West Trains worked together, ensuring passengers and residents were notified well in advance.             Network Rail’s Route Director, David Pape said: “Network Rail is committed to rebuilding the railway and proactively managing our assets. Our front line staff are targeting parts of the infrastructure and improving them to ensure that we can deliver a better service for our customers and the passenger.”