A BIGGER AND BETTER NORTH COTSWOLD LINE

Monday 29 Aug 2011

A BIGGER AND BETTER NORTH COTSWOLD LINE

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Western; | Wales & Western

The North Cotswold line has re-open with an extra 21miles of new track, marking the completion of the £70m improvement scheme. Passengers travelling between Worcester and Oxford will soon be benefitting from better rail performance and more trains on this route.

The improvement work has undone some of the cuts in the 1970s by re-introducing a double-track railway between Ascott-under-Wychwood to east of Charlbury and from Moreton-in-Marsh to Evesham. In addition, disused platforms have been rebuilt at Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood and Honeybourne and out-dated signalling system has also been modernised with digital equipment.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: "As more people travel by train it’s vital passengers have a better services - that’s why the Government has embarked on the biggest modernisation programme to rail since the Victorian era. The improvements on the North Cotswold route which are being carried by Network Rail are great news for passengers, providing improved and more services to and from important destinations such as London, Oxford and Worcester."

Mike Gallop, principal programme sponsor, Network Rail said: “This is a new chapter, a new start for the North Cotswold line, where we have delivered on our promise to bring a bigger and better railway to passengers. This scheme is also one part of our work to upgrade Great Western - transforming journeys and boosting the economy."

Mark Hopwood, managing director, First Great Western said: "I am very proud of the way that the railway industry and local customers have come together to restore this part of the network. The team at First Great Western is confident that the completion of this work will provide a further platform for improved services for customers along the line and beyond."

Passengers at Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood and Honeybourne will also benefit from a bigger, bright and accessible station with improved facilities, including new platforms with step-free access, new lighting and real-time digital information systems.

The level crossings at Littleton and Badsey, Chipping Campden, Blockley and Ascott have also been upgraded with new equipment.

The scheme culminated with an intensive 17-days programme of work with hundreds of engineers out in full force working round the clock. During that period, a 200 tonnes crane was used to install the footbridge at Honeybourne and 15miles of track and six points between Evesham and Moreton were installed.

Notes to editors

The North Cotswolds line is a particularly congested part of the railway, which means even small delays tend to have a huge impact on rail services in the area.

Since the line was singled in the late 1960s, the existing track now follows a route that consists of sections of the old south-bound or north-bound lines. In many places these existing tracks have also been ‘centred’, leaving insufficient track bed for the new lines to be laid.

Six weeks of preparatory work in the summer of 2009 was focused on re-aligning the existing track to make room for the extra track to be installed in the next phase. The drainage system at Chipping Camden Tunnel was also improved. These early work was fundamental to the company’s strategy in minimising disruption.

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