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Friday 30 Sep 2005

BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET TEAM SCOOPS TOP AWARD

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Last year’s engineering work at Birmingham New Street station has officially been hailed a success. The Birmingham New Street track renewals project has been named ‘Best small to medium sized project’ at Network Rail’s You Make The Difference awards. The £9.5 million project to replace old track at the south end of the station took place from Christmas Eve for nine days over the Christmas and New Year holiday period in 2004. Hundreds of track workers passed up their Christmas dinners to make sure the work went according to plan, in time for commuters returning to work. Peter Strachan, Route Director for Network Rail said: “The Birmingham New Street track renewals project last year was a great success and the team thoroughly deserve this award. It was a perfect example of the difference working together can make- working closely with our industry colleagues to make ensure that the project was delivered on time and to budget. I am delighted not only with this award but also the achievements of the project which will provide a better service for passengers who use New Street station.” Riding high from the success of last year’s track renewals the team are now preparing to return to New Street for nine days this Christmas for the second stage of the job. New Street station will remain open throughout the Christmas period while engineers work to replace track on the south side of the station.