Media centre

Monday 15 Aug 2005

EXTENDED WEEKEND BRINGS EXTENSIVE RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Region & Route:

| Southern

Recycled tyres, canal bridges and even cling film will be on the cards over the August bank holiday weekend as Network Rail takes advantage of the extended weekend break to invest in a full programme of essential engineering work across the south. David Pape, Network Rail Route Director said: “Network Rail is committed to rebuilding the railway and we traditionally take full advantage of bank holiday weekends, when fewer people tend to use the trains. The extensive work we will be carrying out over the August bank holiday weekend illustrates some of the innovative new techniques and initiatives we have employed to help us deliver a better and more reliable railway for passengers.” Some of the most varied engineering work over the August bank holiday weekend will take place on the branch line between Virginia Water and Weybridge. Work on the line will include extensive repairs to the River Wey canal bridge near Addlestone station. Heavy duty bolts and additional steelwork will be added to the bridge to help strengthen the structure and increase the rail traffic it can carry. The planning of the project has involved close working with both English Nature and British Waterways to ensure that the canal and surrounding wildlife beneath the bridge will be unaffected by the work. Whilst strengthening the bridge, Network Rail will employ a unique ‘shrinkwrap’ technique to encapsulate the structure. The innovative system bounds the scaffolding around the bridge with a ‘cling film’ like substance which contains excess materials and waste, reducing the chance of damage to the surrounding environment. On the same stretch of railway, maintenance work will also be carried out at both Chertsey and Addlestone station level crossings to replace the existing concrete road surface with rubber. The new rubber surface has been produced out of used vehicle tyres and is part of a recycling initiative to turn rubber waste into new level crossings, platforms and track access points for use by Network Rail. The new crossings at Addlestone and Chertsey will be among a number of rubber level crossings installed by Network Rail. The use of rubber at level crossings improves the anti-skid value of the road surface and also helps turn potentially hazardous waste into an environmentally friendly product, underlining Network Rail’s efforts to ensure the railway is an environmentally friendly mode of transport. While this extensive work is carried, a bus replacement service will run between Virginia Water and Weybridge on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August. The bank holiday weekend will also see the continuation of track improvement work between Southampton and Fareham. Network Rail is investing £1.4 million to replace the line’s existing jointed track (which causes trains to make their familiar clickety-clack sound) with continuous welded track, helping to create a smoother, quieter ride for passengers and improving the reliability of the route. Over the bank holiday weekend, engineers will work throughout Saturday night and all day on Sunday to replace more than 700 yards of track, 1,000 sleepers and 2,500 tonnes of ballast (the stone that makes up the track bed) between Bitterne and Woolston. Replacement bus services will be provided between Fareham and Southampton Central from 8pm on Saturday 27 August and all day Sunday 28 August. David Pape continued: “Large scale engineering work is essential to the future of the railway in the south. While most of the region enjoys an extended weekend break, hundreds of dedicated railway staff will be out on the track, helping to deliver a better and more reliable railway for passengers.” This engineering work has been specifically programmed around the August bank holiday weekend to minimise disruption to commuters and other passengers travelling at peak times.  For travel advice, passengers are advised to consult individual train operators or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk.