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Monday 25 Apr 2005

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND BRINGS MAY-JOR RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Region & Route:

| Southern

Taking advantage of the May Bank Holiday weekend, Network Rail is investing heavily in a full programme of essential engineering work across the south. Robin Gisby, Network Rail Director of Operations and Customer Service said: “Network Rail is committed to rebuilding the railway and the May Bank Holiday is a good opportunity as there are fewer people using the trains. We are making full use of our resources to carry out these essential improvements, enhancing the performance of the railway across the south and bringing long-term benefits to passengers.” The line between Winchester and Eastleigh will be closed across the weekend from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May (inclusive) to allow extensive bridge and track work to be carried out. Engineers will relay over 350 yards of track and some 1800 tonnes of ballast will be replaced. Network Rail will also take full advantage of the closure to continue the £1 million project to strengthen and refurbish Battledown Flyover near Basingstoke. Alternative travel arrangements have been made by South West Trains who will operate a replacement bus service between Winchester and Eastleigh (also calling at Shawford) across the weekend. In Kent, the lines between Maidstone West and Paddock Wood will be closed from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May while engineers carry out track renewal and maintenance work, relaying nearly 1,000 yards of track. A replacement bus service run by South Eastern Trains will operate hourly between Maidstone West and Paddock Wood, calling at all stations. The Bank Holiday Weekend also sees the start of extensive maintenance work on the Folkestone tunnels between Folkestone Central and Dover Priory. Network Rail has invested £10 million in the 4 month project which will completely overhaul the three 160-year-old tunnels to improve future reliability for rail passengers. The work means that from Saturday 30 April until Monday 5 September, all lines will be closed between Folkestone Central and Dover Priory stations, and will be replaced by bus services while engineers work round the clock in the tunnels. On Saturday 30 April only, the lines between Ashford International and Dover Priory will also be closed to allow the project team to segregate the Folkestone tunnels worksite from the rest of the operational railway. South Eastern Trains will operate replacement bus services hourly between Ashford International and Dover Priory including a fast bus service calling at Folkestone Central only, and a stopping bus service calling at all stations. An additional train service will also operate half-hourly between Dover Priory and Ramsgate calling at all stations. Robin Gisby continued: “Large scale engineering work is essential to the future of the railway. While most of the south enjoys an extended weekend break, hundreds of dedicated railway staff will be forgoing their May Bank Holiday weekend to undertake this intensive programme of engineering, helping to deliver a better railway for the south.” This engineering work has been specifically programmed around the May Bank Holiday weekend to ensure passengers travelling at peak times and commuters are largely unaffected. Half as many people use trains over the holidays compared to normal travel times, on average. The work has been planned in close consultation with train operating companies to ensure passengers can complete their journeys using alternative travel arrangements.  For travel advice, passengers are advised to consult individual train operators or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk.