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Monday 9 Oct 2006

EAST KENT RAILWAYS GET THE GREEN LIGHT FOR £48 MILLION INVESTMENT

Region & Route:

| Southern

Rail passengers in Kent are set to benefit from quicker, smoother and more reliable journeys thanks to a massive £48m investment from Network Rail. The planned work will see the replacement of miles of signalling equipment from Ramsgate to Faversham and between Faversham and Canterbury East.  The project, scheduled to start in 2010, will help ease congestion by allowing more trains to run in the East Kent area, as well as enabling trains to run at faster speeds than presently. Some of the existing signalling in the area dates back to the 1960s and will be completely replaced with state of the art computerised signalling equipment.    All signals in the area will be run from a Network Rail central control centre in Gillingham. The project is part of Network Rail’s plans to invest almost £2billion in six major signalling schemes nationwide, which took a major step forward with the award of four multi-million pound signalling ‘framework’ agreements.    The new signalling systems will deliver substantial benefits to passengers and freight users, increasing reliability and reducing delays.  Cost reductions around 26% for unit costs over the next three years are anticipated. Network Rail’s Director, Major Projects & Investments Simon Kirby said: “This is great news for millions of passengers who will find their journeys significantly improved. Investment on this scale will reduce delays by improving the reliability of the railway.  This will mean long-term benefits from a better rail network for different regions across the country. “Delivering efficiently, with the right supplier is hugely important.  We have made long-term commitments to suppliers, giving them the opportunity to invest in the development of technology.   In return, we have received long-term cost guarantees, helping us to achieve our cost targets.” Upgrades, such as bridge improvements and track renewals work, will take place alongside signalling work to maximise use of the access to the track and minimise disruption for passengers. The new signalling systems, which will replace systems dating back decades, will be designed by Network Rail’s specialist in-house team. Estimated values for works in the first three years of the framework agreements are as follows: Area                     Contractor        Estimated value for 3 years: North Thames      Alstom Transport                      £50m South Thames     Siemens                                   £48m East Midlands    Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd     £73m West Midlands   Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd     £105m Glasgow           Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd       £42m South Wales      Atkins Rail Ltd                              £95m The £2bn investment plans over the next five to eight years are outlined below, bringing benefits to passengers and freight services:

• £500m in the South West
• £400m in South Wales including Newport and Cardiff
• £350m in the West Midlands; the first phase will be in Leamington followed by Water Orton
• £250m in the East Midlands; the first phase is in North Erewash followed by South Erewash
• £250m in the South East; Colchester to Clacton is the first scheme to go ahead.  The next phases are in East Kent, Canterbury West and North London Line.
• £200m in Scotland beginning in Glasgow

More than £160 million of work has already been awarded for schemes at Port Talbot, Portsmouth, Coventry and Basingstoke to ensure the prompt delivery of passenger benefits.