Media centre

Thursday 4 Dec 2003

BEN NEVIS REPLACED THREE TIMES OVER ON THE SAXMUNDHAM TO SIZEWELL BRANCH LINE

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Network Rail is investing in the Sizewell branch line in Suffolk.  During a 12-day programme, 1,500 wooden sleepers will be renewed between Saxmundham and Sizewell using the latest railway technology. Stacked end on end the sleepers will stretch to almost three times the height of Ben Nevis – Great Britian’s highest mountain. This job is part of Network Rail’s on-going maintenance and renewal programme for rebuilding Britain’s railways.                         The sleeper renewal programme started on Monday 1 December and will be completed by Friday 12 December.  The work will be carried out during the daytime and around the power station’s train service.  The sleepers will be replaced using the latest on-track machinery. A specially developed train will unbolt sleepers and slide them out from underneath the rail. New sleepers will then be pushed underneath the track and bolted to it.  The ballast around the sleepers will be replaced and repacked, securing the sleepers in place. Mark Phillips, Network Rail Regional Director said:  “Network Rail is committed to investing money into the railway infrastructure, even small branch lines. Renewing the sleepers will extend the life of the Sizewell branch line and the important train service that runs to the power station.”