GETTING BACK ON TRACK IN YORKSHIRE

Wednesday 27 Jun 2007

GETTING BACK ON TRACK IN YORKSHIRE

Region & Route:

Rail staff continue to work to restore normal services on the network in Yorkshire following the unprecedented weather experienced at the start of the week. Flood damage prevented services from running on many lines on 26 June and, although water levels are dropping in most places, there is still clean up work to complete in some places. Network Rail is testing and restoring electrical equipment which has been damaged by the floods, divers have been brought in to examine bridges, and teams are removing the debris and examining the damage done to tracks, cuttings and embankments. Dyan Crowther, route director for Network Rail, said: "I want to thank passengers and train operating companies for their patience during these very difficult circumstances. Our teams have been working around the clock to restore services as quickly as possible but - as ever - safety had to remain our number one priority. "There is still disruption in some areas and this may continue for some days because of the level of damage caused by the floods. We will continue to work flat out in order to get back to normal as fast as we can." Further images can be downloaded here: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/default.asp?SubjectID=126

Notes to editors

Service update at 9am 29 June 2007: NB Passengers requiring specific service information shold contact National Rail Enquiries - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or 08457 48 49 50 Services on the East Coast Mainline are running the length of the route. They were suspended on Tuesday between Doncaster and York owing to flooding at a key bridge at Marshgate. Cross country services have also been restored although they are still unable to call at Doncaster. There remains no service between Doncaster and Leeds owing to damage to the track and electrical equipment at Adwick. This service should be restored week commencing 2 July, dependent upon repair works. There has also been severe damage to the rail infrastructure in South Yorkshire at Kiveton. The embankment and track will need repairs likely to cost in excess of £1million. This will take some time and continues to affect services between Sheffield and Worksop, Retford and Lincoln. Rotherham Central station remains closed and is likely to take some days to reopen as it has suffered extensive damage.

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