Media centre

Wednesday 24 Mar 2004

LINE CLOSURE WILL CAUSE EXTRA RAIL TRAFFIC

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is warning residents of extra rail traffic on a Bristol line during Easter, which is being used as a diversionary route during major works being carried out at Filton. Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority are jointly funding the £15 million project at Filton, which will see the redoubling of track and a new platform at Filton Abbey Wood Station, removing a major bottleneck on the rail network. Over Easter, from Friday April 10 to Monday April 12, the main Bristol to South Wales line will be closed at Filton, and rail traffic diverted over a secondary route between Filton West junction and Narroways Hill junction, via (but not calling at) St Andrew’s Road, Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Sea Mills, Clifton Down, and Redland. There are many road and pedestrian crossings along this route and road-users and residents in the area are all being asked to be extra vigilant when they cross the line, due to the increase in the volume of train traffic. Even though the closure will take place in the school holiday, the Local Education Authority has been alerted so it can warn its schools and pupils in advance. “Because this line is going to take an unprecedented amount of traffic, albeit for only three days, we felt it essential to warn residents and road users in the area,” said Morag Rickett, Network Rail Regional Community Relations Manager. “Our message is clear: please be extra careful when crossing the railway line because trains are more likely than usual to be in the vicinity.” -more- Filton 2 There will be a second period of line closure when the same rail diversion will be set up, for 14 days from June 14 to 28. Work on the Filton project is due for completion in October. Recently Transport Minister Kim Howells visited the site at Filton to give his endorsement to the project and to meet some of the Network Rail team who are carrying out the work.”