Media centre

Thursday 13 Jan 2011

MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT WORKS FOR DUNDEE-ABERDEEN

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

• Network Rail engineers delivering a range of enhancements over next three weekends on line between two cities

• ScotRail introducing replacement bus services to minimise disruption

Network Rail is to undertake extensive track renewal and civil engineering works on the line between Dundee and Aberdeen over the next three weekends.

The works, totalling more than £3m of investment in the route, will not only enhance the infrastructure on the line, but also help reduce the potential impact of severe wet weather on the route.

Network Rail will be undertaking a series of devegetation, earthwork, drainage and stabilisation projects to help guard against landslips and rockfalls and manage vegetation encroaching on the infrastructure. Sections of life-expired track will also be renewed.

In order to deliver these improvements to the rail network as quickly and efficiently as possible, the works will require a closure of the line between Dundee and Aberdeen on Sunday January 16, 23 and 30.

Replacement bus services will be provided between Dundee and Aberdeen, Carnoustie and Dundee and Carnoustie and Arbroath.

David Simpson, Network Rail Route Director for Scotland, said: "This investment and maintenance programme is essential to the continued running of a reliable rail network.

"Closing the line allows us to complete our enhancements quickly and efficiently and to avoid disruption to the working week on the line between to such important commercial centres."

Jacqueline Dey, ScotRail operations director, added: “We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum. Full plans are in place to provide alternative transport arrangements where required.”