Media centre

Sunday 25 Apr 2004

MAINTENANCE WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THE WIMBLEDON TO SUTTON LINE TO BRING LONG TERM BENEFITS FOR PASSENGERS

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail will be carrying out essential maintenance and upgrade work on the railway between Wimbledon and Sutton.  A programme of work will require the temporary closure of the lines between these stations from 0100 hrs on Saturday 7 August to 0400 hrs on Tuesday 31 August 2004. Network Rail is working closely with the train operators using the line to limit service disruption and to keep local residents and passengers fully informed during this period. Alternative arrangements for passengers who wish to travel are being put in place and will be available prior to the start of the work. As part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuild the railway, engineers will work around the clock to renew 12,749 yards of life expired track. Continuously welded rail with concrete sleepers will be installed using a total 38,500 tonnes of ballast, 17,000 sleepers and 25,500 yards of rail.  Passengers will benefit from a smoother, quieter and more reliable journey.   If placed end to end the sleepers would almost reach nearly five times the height of Mount Everest. Robin Gisby, Regional Director, Network Rail said, “It is vital that this work is carried out to make these essential repairs to the railway.  We will try our best to keep disruption to a minimum while the work is going on, but feel sure passengers will understand that the short term inconvenience will guarantee a more reliable train service in the future.” He added, “Network Rail is committed to rebuilding the railway and proactively managing our assets. Our frontline staff are targeting parts of the infrastructure and improving them to ensure that we can deliver a better service for our customers and the passenger.”