CHELTENHAM – GLOUCESTER LINE RE-OPENS

Wednesday 26 Oct 2005

CHELTENHAM – GLOUCESTER LINE RE-OPENS

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

Passengers using the route between Cheltenham and Gloucester were back on track this morning as the line re-opened. It had been closed since 18 October, when one wagon on a moving freight train came off the track just south of Cheltenham Spa station and was dragged for almost four miles to just north of Gloucester, damaging the rail and sleepers beneath. Both lines between Gloucester and Cheltenham were closed while Network Rail replaced almost 10,000 sleepers and repaired signalling and points. Robbie Burns, Network Rail’s Western Route Director, said: “This has been an enormous repair effort and our engineers have been working around the clock to re-open the line for rail passengers. “I’d like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work, which has allowed us to re-open the line within a relatively short period of time. I am also grateful to the passengers for their patience and to the train operating companies for modifying and organising replacement services so quickly.” To repair the line:

Network Rail’s new high output track relaying train was brought in every night
Almost 10,000 sleepers were replaced
80-100 workers were on site every night
Network Rail’s new lining and stabilisation plant was used to align the track

Contact information

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