Wednesday 10 Mar 2004
DR KIM HOWELLS MP, MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, TO VISIT THE STROOD AND HIGHAM TUNNELS
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Southern
Network Rail and South Eastern Trains today gave Transport Minister, Kim Howells a guided tour of major engineering work currently underway at the Strood and Higham tunnels, Kent. Local MPs and stakeholders were also invited to view the work.
The longest tunnel relining project in recent times, spanning over 3.5km of tunnel and track, it will reinforce sections of tunnel that are currently unlined using steel support arches and concrete lining. Additional work, including the installation of a new drainage system is planned to protect the railway from rising water levels from the Thames and Medway Rivers. New tracks will also be built to minimise any future disruptions to train services through the tunnels.
The work is scheduled to take 12 months and when complete will enable speed restrictions to be lifted, returning the line speed to 70mph allowing South Eastern Trains to improve service to passengers.
Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s regional director said, “This major engineering feat is on track to deliver a good performing, reliable and safe railway for Kent. We would like to thank local residents and passengers for their patience and co-operation whilst the project is being carried out.”
Kim Howells, Transport Minister said, "I've seen some impressive work here today. The engineering kit was used on the Channel Tunnel so that gives you some idea of just how advanced it is.
Kent's passengers are inevitably facing disruption to their journeys but in the long term these improvements will bring huge benefits.”
Michael Holden, Managing Director, South Eastern Trains added, “We’re extremely pleased the engineering work is underway as in the past our passengers have had to put up with slower journeys and unplanned closures on this route. Although the work causes some disruption to passengers and residents, when completed it will mean a more reliable train service on this line for future generations of rail travellers.”
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
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