Media centre

Wednesday 5 Oct 2005

MEDIA INVITATION: A CHORD-IAL INVITATION

Region & Route:

Date:                           13 October 2005 Time:                          8.45am Location:                    Grantham Station Event:                         The official opening of Allington Chord Media contact:          Carolyn Watson, 01904 383180        You are invited to join Rail Minister Derek Twigg, John Armitt, Chief Executive of Network Rail and local dignitaries to mark the official opening of Allington Chord. Delivered on time and budget this £12 million 450 metre section of track, north of Grantham, will have a significant impact on local and long distance rail travel.  The chord will mean greater route flexibility with good connections for local services into Grantham and long distance services.  It will also improve reliability and performance on the East Coast Main Line.  When combined with other improvements, the new track will also increase capacity on the East Coast Main Line. At present, trains between Nottingham and Skegness via Grantham travel on the East coast Main Line between Grantham and Barkston South Junction, taking up space on the East Coast Main Line.  The new chord removes the need for them to use the East Coast Main Line, providing a dedicated route to and from Grantham station on the Nottingham branch line. The project included:

• construction of a 450 metre, twin track, 30mph chord
• construction of a new signal box at Allington
• upgrading the existing level crossing at Allington to modern barriers
• reconstruction of an old underbridge
• removal of the existing Barkston chord