Friday 14 Oct 2011
LATEST TECHNOLOGY USED IN RAIL WORK
- Region & Route:
Network Rail will be using tilting track trains and laser guided technology when it renews the track layout at Wigan’s Wallgate station.
The work involves completely replacing eight sets of points, which are used to switch trains from one track to another, renewing 1,000 metres of railway line and realigning the signalling and overhead power line equipment to match the new track layout.
Route director Jo Kaye explains: “We’ll be using some of the most modern equipment at our disposal. The new sets of points will be delivered to the worksites on tilting track trains. This saves time and is more cost effective because the points can be manufactured in advance and simply be delivered as required on trains that can carry them upright, then tilt over as they are lowered into position by crane. Even this process is guided by lasers.”
The £3.8million project will improve reliability of the railway in and around Wigan.
Work is being carried out from Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October inclusive. During this time there will there be no trains running between Southport and Wigan / Bolton and replacement road services have been arranged to transport passengers from Southport and Kirkby to Wigan and Bolton.
Posters are on display at stations and a temporary timetable is available at stations on these routes. Alternatively, visit www.northernrail.org or www.nationalrail.co.uk for information on how this will affect specific journeys
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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