Friday 28 Jul 2006
BIG HEARTED RAIL WORKERS HELP OUT STAFFORDSHIRE’S WILDLIFE
- Region & Route:
Children and visitors to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust will enjoy new improved ‘pond dipping’ facilities this summer, because Network Rail has stepped in to construct a new jetty and path at the Trust’s Wolseley Centre at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford.
Children and visitors to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust will enjoy new improved ‘pond dipping’ facilities this summer, because Network Rail has stepped in to construct a new jetty and path at the Trust’s Wolseley Centre at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford. As part of the £8 billion project to upgrade the West Coast Main Line, Network Rail is upgrading the electricity supply on the route through Staffordshire. To mark World Environment Day, the Network Rail project team based at nearby Colwich constructed a new jetty at the centre’s pond which will be used by visitors for pond dipping – searching for wildlife in the water. A new disabled access path linking the classrooms at the centre was also constructed. Tom McCarthy, Network Rail Programme Director, West Coast, said: “The upgrade of the power supply along the railway through Staffordshire is a key milestone towards modernizing the West Coast Main Line. However Network Rail takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and we were delighted to help Staffordshire Wildlife Trust improve their facilities” Dan Saberton, Wolseley Centre Warden, from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust added: “It was a delightful surprise when Network Rail contacted us offering their people and machinery. It would have taken our volunteers several weeks to complete the work by hand, plus we saved money into the bargain! I’m sure the visitors to Wolseley this summer will appreciate the difference Network Rail made.”
Notes to editors
Built in the 1800s, the West Coast Main Line has developed into the UK’s busiest mixed traffic railway (responsible for 43% of Britain’s UK freight traffic) and is recognised as a leading European rail artery. Responsible for over 2,000 train movements each day, the route also caters for over 75 million passenger journeys per year The West Coast Main Line comprises some 1,660 track miles, 2,800 signals including 13 major junctions and 10,000 bridge spans The modernisation project is costing £8 billion and introduced a 125mph railway with tilting train operation between London and Glasgow in December 2005. The project is scheduled for completion 2008/2009
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