ELY BRIDGE ON TRACK FOR CHRISTMAS OPENING

Monday 17 Dec 2007

ELY BRIDGE ON TRACK FOR CHRISTMAS OPENING

Region & Route:: Eastern: Anglia; | Eastern

Network Rail has today confirmed that it is on course to complete construction of its new rail bridge at Ely this Thursday afternoon, enabling the resumption of services from Ipswich to Peterborough. The original bridge which spanned the River Ouse at Ely was damaged by the derailment of a freight train on 22 June, and had to be demolished. The centre span of the new bridge was craned into place over the weekend and track maintenance teams are now working hard to lay new track and signals to make the railway operational. Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail Anglia Route Director said: "This has been an incredibly challenging project but everyone involved has worked tirelessly to get the new bridge built and I’m delighted that the finishing line is now in sight. I’d like to thank passengers, local residents and businesses and our rail industry partners for their continued cooperation and patience throughout this project. I’m very much looking forward to seeing passenger and freight services return to this important local and cross-country route.”

Notes to editors

The new bridge is a single structure, steel decked river span bridge. The 30m steel span sits on new independently piled reinforced concrete abutments and box culvert side spans. It is around 100 metres in total length. It will continue to carry a single line across the river with the capacity to carry two and be ready for the larger European sized W10 gauge freight. The river has not been closed during construction. Instead, Network Rail put in place a pontoon which acts like a swing bridge to allow both the transportation of plant equipment from one side of the river to the other, and let boats pass through. Until the bridge reopens, the following replacement services remain: 'One' services between Liverpool Street and Peterborough will start and terminate at Bury St Edmunds. A bus replacement service will be in operation between Bury St Edmunds and Ely. Passengers for through journeys via Peterborough are advised to use Ipswich to Cambridge services and Central Trains services forward to Peterborough. Journey times will be extended by up to 60 minutes. Ipswich - Cambridge trains are unaffected. Passengers should call the National Rail Enquiries Helpline on 08457 48 49 50 or visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for information and help to plan their journeys.

Contact information

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