Media centre

Monday 11 Jul 2005

MEDIA INVITATION: TRANSPORT MINISTER TO VISIT FOLKESTONE TUNNEL TRANSFORMATION

Region & Route:

| Southern

Date:                           Tuesday 19 July 2005 Time:                          10.30am Location:                    Site office at Samphire Hoe, Dover (see map attached) Derek Twigg MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport will visit Folkestone next week to inspect the £10 million project to transform the Folkestone railway tunnels. The minister’s visit marks the halfway point of the tunnel project which began in April and which will completely overhaul the three railway tunnels on the route between Dover Priory and Folkestone Central stations. The Shakespeare, Abbotscliffe and Martello tunnels are now 160-years-old and their age was starting to affect the reliability of the route as they were having to close on a more regular basis for repairs. The extensive work on the three tunnels is absolutely essential to continue improving performance and delivering benefits to passengers. Mr Twigg will meet with the Network Rail Project Team to discuss the ongoing work before being walked through part of Abbotscliffe tunnel to see the work at first hand. There will be photo and interview opportunities with the Minister and Network Rail Route Director as well as a guided walk into the tunnel for the media. Members of the media who wish to attend should contact the Network Rail media relations team by Thursday 14 July on 020 7557 8107.