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Monday 26 Mar 2007

INVESTMENT IN RELIABILITY IN SUNDERLAND

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Rail passengers in Sunderland are set to benefit from a more reliable service as Network Rail invests £950,000 in new overhead electrical equipment. A new overhead solid rail system is being introduced at Sunderland tunnel to replace the overhead lines which have been found to be degrading at a much faster rate than usual. Network Rail's territory maintenance director, Andrew Hinton, said: "This is a very wet tunnel with a lot of water seepage which has caused the overhead lines to corrode incredibly quickly. We estimate that we have seen around 50 years corrosion on the lines in just four years. "There is no danger to passengers but it does create an issue of high maintenance costs, plus disruption to travel when we have to carry out work within the tunnel. We are now replacing the old equipment with a new system which is much more resistant to this type of corrosion." In order to complete the work it is necessary to stop all traffic through the tunnel for six days from 11am on Monday 9 April to 5.25am on Saturday 14 April. Mick Carbro, Metro Director for Nexus, said: "Network Rail has informed us of the need to do this work, which unfortunately means we will be unable to operate a Metro service between Pelaw and South Hylton while it is carried out. "We will be providing replacement buses. I know this will be a big inconvenience for our passengers, but I hope they appreciate that Network Rail need to get this job done." Andrew Hinton added: "We apologise to all passengers who are inconvenienced by these works but, in carrying them out, we will be creating a more robust system which will be more reliable and longer lasting."