Media centre

Friday 25 Jun 2004

COUNTDOWN TO CLOSURE - TWO WEEKS TO GO

Region & Route:

| Southern

As the clock ticks away until the closure of the Ipswich tunnel, Network Rail and its industry partners are making sure that passengers are prepared for the service alterations. Thousands of leaflets have been distributed to stations, travel information centres and libraries.  Information has also been touring the region on an exhibition stand and of course been published in newspapers. Mark Livock, Network Rail Project Director said: “We are confident that the alternative arrangements we have in place will run smoothly and passengers journeys’ will be disrupted as little as possible.  We are still urging people to utilise the free car parking at Ipswich and Stowmarket and to hop on the carefully scheduled coaches and buses.” The tunnel will close on Sunday 11 July and reopen to passenger services on Monday 6 September.  The eight-week closure is essential to the future of East Anglia’s railway and recognises the importance of rail freight traffic to the local economy and road infrastructure. The highest freight container that can pass through the tunnel on standard wagons at the moment is 8’6” high. However, there is a clear international trend to increase the size of freight containers to 9’6” high. - more - 2 weeks – 2 Each year around 374,000 of the 1.7 million containers landing in the port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, are transported by rail to destinations in the West Midlands, North West, North East and Scotland. In 2002 around one in four containers landing in the port were 9’6” high, by 2010 it is anticipated that around a half of all the containers landing in the port (850,000) will be 9’6” high. Without alterations to Ipswich tunnel, rail freight business from the port of Felixstowe will gradually decline. The project to enhance the tunnel, funded by the Strategic Rail Authority and implemented by Network Rail, will bring significant environmental benefits. One freight train can carry the equivalent of up to 70 lorry loads and the alternative way to transport freight containers from the port of Felixstowe is by road, primarily via the A14. Ben Wilson, Project Sponsor, Strategic Rail Authority said:  “The railway industry would like to thank the Ipswich community for the support they have shown towards this project.  Undeniably the eight-week closure will cause some delays, but there will be many long term benefits including reduced lorry traffic and expansion of Felixstowe Port.” Network Rail will take full advantage of the closure by spending £9.6 million on track renewals and maintenance on the railway between Ipswich and Manningtree. Time on the tracks, while no trains are running, is precious and these eight weeks are a great opportunity to get stuck in to lengthy and difficult jobs. Alternative travel arrangements 11 July – 5 September 2004: ·        There will be no mainline train services from Ipswich station.  The station, the ticket office and its retail units will remain open.  Station staff will be on hand with up to date travel information. ·        A direct coach service will run between Ipswich and Manningtree. ·        Direct coach services will run between Stowmarket, Felixstowe and Woodbridge to Manningtree at peak times. ·        Free parking will be available at Ipswich and Stowmarket. ·        Free parking for Anglia Railways’ Commuter Club members will be available at Portman Road, Ipswich. o       A direct coach service in the morning will run from Portman Road to Manningtree. ·        Temporary car park at Manningtree with limited spaces. ·        One direct train in morning peak from Norwich to London via Cambridge. ·        One direct train in evening peak from London to Norwich via Cambridge. ·        One direct train, off peak, in both directions to and from Norwich and London via Cambridge. ·        Extra carriages on Norwich to Cambridge and Ipswich to Cambridge/Peterborough services. ·        Off peak travellers to/from Norwich can use direct services from Norwich to Cambridge. ·        Local train services to Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Cambridge and Peterborough will not be affected. ·        Specific timetable details were published by Train Operating Companies in Spring 2004.