Media centre

Monday 8 Nov 2021

Manea track renewals improve journeys between Ely and Peterborough

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

A speed restriction on the railway line between Ely and Peterborough has been raised following a programme of wheel timber renewals across four bridges near Manea. Trains can now travel at up to 75mph enabling more reliable journeys for passengers.

Over the last 20 months inspections of softwood wheel timbers have been taking place using new technology, to understand the internal condition of the timbers. As part of the inspection 115 timbers on four bridges have been identified as needing replacement. 

As part of this renewal programme, Network Rail together with its contractor Taziker, has replaced 30 wheel timbers across seven weekends. This follows work which took place at the end of 2020 to replace 57 pairs of wheel timbers across the four bridges. It is very important to replace any timbers to avoid further deterioration which could then lead to either speed restrictions or the closure of the line, significantly disrupting train services.

This work has enabled the speed of the line to be raised to 75mph on the line towards Peterborough and 50mph on the line towards Ely for passenger services, reducing delays.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Passengers’ journeys are now more reliable and safer following this critical work to replace the wheel timbers on the Manea bridges. We also took great care to protect the environment in the area while carrying out the work.  I know passengers haven’t been able to travel by train on this line over the last seven weekends, and I’d like to thank them for bearing with us, while we carried out the work to improve their journeys for the future.”

Network Rail and its contractors are expected to return to Manea to carry out further works on the bridges in 2022.  Details will be published once plans have been finalised.