Local residents invited to drop-in event about the reconstruction of Uffington bridge: Railway bridge at Uffington

Tuesday 7 Oct 2014

Local residents invited to drop-in event about the reconstruction of Uffington bridge

Region & Route:
| Wales & Western: Western
| Wales & Western

Members of the public are invited to attend a drop-in event to find out more about the reconstruction of the bridge over the railway line at Uffington in Oxfordshire.

The event will take place between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday 9 October at Tom Brown’s School Museum on Broad Street in Uffington. Members of the Network Rail project team will be on hand throughout to explain the work being undertaken and to answer any questions.

Network Rail is reconstructing the bridge as part of its major scheme to electrify the railway between London, Bristol and Cardiff. The rebuilt bridge will be higher, creating the additional space needed for the overhead lines to power a new fleet of faster, quieter and greener electric trains to run underneath.

Work on the bridge will start in December after Challow Road bridge has reopened and will take approximately six months to complete. During this time the road will be closed and a short diversion put in place.

Jim Weeden, project director for Network Rail, said: “Electrification will bring huge benefits to the region. Together with a fleet of new trains, it will improve journey times and make services more comfortable, smoother, and quieter for passengers and people living near the railway.

“We know that closing the bridge temporarily could inconvenience those who live and work in the area, which is why we’re holding this drop-in event. All are welcome and I’d urge anyone who wants to know more about our work, or has a question they’d like answered, to come along.”

Notes to editors

About the Great Western Electrification Programme:

Electrification will transform the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff to deliver a faster, greener, quieter and more reliable railway for passengers, with extra capacity. Electrifying this part of the Great Western route will enhance 235 miles of one of Britain’s busiest and oldest railways, better connecting major towns and cities across southern England and South Wales. This investment, as well as the introduction of a fleet of new trains, will improve journey times and make services more comfortable, smoother, cleaner and quieter for passengers and people living near the railway.

For more information about the Great Western Electrification Programme, visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - South East route
020 3357 7969
southeastroutecomms@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

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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