Media centre

Thursday 18 Mar 2004

EASTER ENGINEERING WORK

Region & Route:

National

- THE REBUILDING OF THE RAILWAY GOES ON - Network Rail today announced the main engineering works to take place over the Easter period. The work has been specifically programmed to ensure that peak commuter travel periods remain unaffected when, on average, twice as many people use the trains even compared to peak holiday travel time.  Where it has been necessary to carry out work over the entire holiday period, this has been planned well in advance to give train operating companies adequate time to plan alternative travel arrangements for passengers. Announcing the news, Network Rail Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: “This Easter will be a busy time for Network Rail, its staff and contractors, as our job to rebuild the railway continues. “Tens of thousands of dedicated railway staff will be hard at work over the Easter break,  undertaking some massive engineering tasks that will help to deliver a better performing railway.”  George Muir, Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies added:  “The Easter period is a very busy time of the year for train operators and also a time when major engineering works are best carried out to take advantage of the four-day break.  These essential improvements will increase performance and help trains to run more smoothly and on time.” Details of the largest pieces of engineering over the Easter weekend (Friday 9 April to Monday 12 April) are detailed below.  Full alternative travel arrangements can be obtained by calling National Rail Enquiries (08457 48 49 50) or logging on to www.nationalrail.co.uk.                                                 - more -             Easter - 2 London ·                    Major bridge replacement scheme at Clapham Junction affecting lines into Waterloo will begin in the early hours of Friday 9 April until the morning of Tuesday 13 April.  Will affect South West trains services from Waterloo including services to locations such as Portsmouth, Southampton, Salisbury and the South West.  As a result there will also be a limited service on Saturday and train diversions in place for South Central services into and out of Victoria.  Replacement bus services will be in operation for some stations in South London. ·                    Two of the four main lines out of Paddington (near Hayes & Harlington) will be closed from midday on Saturday 10 April and all day Sunday 11 April.  Major plain line track renewals work will be undertaken.  Services will be reduced as a result. ·                    CTRL works continue at and around St Pancras.  On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April this will result in St Pancras station being closed and Midland Main line services starting / terminating at Luton with onward travel by Thameslink. West Coast Main Line Network Rail and its engineering teams will be carrying out major renewals of the line between Stafford and Rugby from 9 to 13 April and between Rugby and Hemel Hempstead from the 9 to 12 April. ·                    From Friday 9 to Sunday 11 April, Virgin services will start / terminate at Northampton with a coach link to Hemel Hempstead to connect with Silverlink train services to and from London. ·                    On Monday 12 April, Virgin services will start / terminate at Milton Keynes with a coach link to Hemel Hempstead to connect with Silverlink train services to and from London. ·                    On Tuesday 13, the West Coast will be closed between Rugby and Lichfield.  Virgin services will be diverted via the West Midlands (ie. Coventry / Birmingham / Wolverhampton) adding approximately an hour to services to Manchester, Crewe and beyond. East Coast Main Line ·                    Services between London Kings Cross, York, the north east of England and Scotland will operate as normal.  However, on Sunday 11 April, services between London King’s Cross and Leeds will be diverted between Doncaster and Leeds and will not stop at Wakefield. For passengers travelling to and from Wakefield Westgate station only, there will be a replacement coach service in operation in both directions to and from Leeds and Doncaster stations. West Country ·                    The Severn Tunnel will be closed on Sunday 11 April for some track relaying work. Diversions will be in place. ·                    On Sunday 11 April, Great Western main line services to the West Country will be diverted via Yeovil leading to extended journey times to Exeter and beyond.  This is as a result of the main line being closed between Taunton and Exeter, with alternative road transport provided for stations affected.