Media centre

Friday 2 Jul 2004

IPSWICH TUNNEL CLOSURE - ONE WEEK TO GO -

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

There is just one week to go until the eight-week closure of Ipswich tunnel.  50,000 leaflets have been distributed, an exhibition stand has toured the region and practice runs of the bus arrangements have been successful. Mark Livock, Network Rail Project Director said:  “We are as prepared as we can be.  All arrangements are in place and we are ready for the first morning on Monday 12 July.” The tunnel closes to rail traffic after the 23.30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich ‘one’ service travels through Ipswich. Construction workers and railway engineers will be straight on site preparing the tunnel for work, putting up hoardings and getting equipment to starting positions.  The first job is to demolish the ‘track slab,’ a bed of concrete upon which the track sits. Mr Livock continued:  “We will not waste anytime at the weekend and we’ll immediately get down to the task at hand in and around the tunnel.” Richard Clark, ‘one’ route director said:  “As a train operator we have been integral in the alternative travel arrangements during the tunnel closure.  Manningtree station is well prepared as are the bus services.  We are confident that passenger journeys will run smoothly during the eight weeks.” - more - 1 week – 2 Bus services from Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Woodbridge and Ipswich are timed to fit in with train departures from Manningtree.  Buses will travel down the A137 to Manningtree, dropping passengers off in the specially constructed temporary bus interchange.  Passengers will access station platforms directly from the car park. Mark Livock finished by saying:  “The changes to Ipswich tunnel are really important to the country, allowing larger freight containers to travel from Felixstowe to the rest of the UK.  It will reduce traffic on the A14 and other local roads and ensure that the UK’s freight business and Felixstowe port continues to grow.”