MP TOM HARRIS RE-OPENS TITWOOD ROAD BRIDGE ONE MONTH EARLY

Monday 31 Jul 2006

MP TOM HARRIS RE-OPENS TITWOOD ROAD BRIDGE ONE MONTH EARLY

Region & Route:: Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Date: Monday 31 July Time: 10.30am Location: Crossmyloof station (where a plaque will be unveiled) One of Glasgow's most ambitious road and rail construction projects will be unveiled today when Tom Harris MP re-opens Titwood Road Bridge on the city's south side, one month ahead of schedule. The £7 million replacement of Titwood Road Bridge is a joint project funded by Network Rail and Glasgow City Council to deliver significant improvements in road and rail capacity. The bridge has been strengthened, allowing the removal of the three tonne weight restriction and bringing the structure into line with European standards. Road alignment at the junction has been enhanced and the bridge now provides sufficient clearance for Virgin Pendolino trains, which means that passengers will still be able to enjoy a reliable service into Glasgow when vital engineering work has to be carried out on the West Coast Main Line. Celebrating the bridge's opening, David Simpson, Network Rail's Route Director in Scotland, said: "The reconstruction of Titwood Road Bridge has been a tremendous achievement and it is credit to everyone involved that it is being opened on budget and almost one month ahead of schedule. This has been a very successful joint partnership with the local authority and is the first time we have worked together on such an ambitious scale. I would like to thank rail passengers, road users and the local community for their patience while we carried out the work. Everyone can now enjoy the benefits of this major investment, which has produced a bridge that will last well over a hundred years." Councillor William O'Rourke, Executive Member for Roads and Lighting added: "I am sure everyone - including residents, businesses and commuters - will warmly welcome the re-opening of the improved Titwood Road Bridge which provides a vital transport link on the city's south side, including access to the national stadium at Hampden Park. This has been a major undertaking and we are proud to be associated with workmanship that will last for another century." Tom Harris MP said: ''It is great news that I am formally opening Titwood Road Bridge one month ahead of schedule - this demonstrates how effectively Network Rail and Glasgow City Council have worked together on this ambitious project. As well as constructing a new bridge over the railway, the project team has improved both the traffic junction and pedestrian access to the station, bringing benefits for road and rail users. This unveiling has been well worth the wait.''

Notes to editors

The Glasgow & South Western route, which passes through Crossmyloof Station at Titwood Road, was previously used by First Scotrail and freight services travelling between Kilmarnock and Glasgow. It will now also accommodate diesel-hauled tilting Pendolinos, which travel up the West Coast Main Line Titwood Road Bridge reconstruction was the final key element in upgrading the Glasgow & South Western route to enable passage of tilting Pendolino trains and provide a diversionary route between Carlisle and Glasgow. The total scheme involved demolishing and reconstructing 16 bridges, lowering 37 stretches of track to increase bridge clearance and 55 track realignments The Glasgow & South Western route clearance was carried out as part of Network Rail's West Coast Route Modernisation programme to enable Virgin's tilting pendolino trains to run between London and Glasgow at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour, cutting the journey time to 4 hours 23 minutes Titwood Road Bridge was closed in August 2005 and road diversions were put in place by Glasgow City Council The bridge reconstruction is also part of Glasgow City Council’s ongoing bridge assessment and strengthening programme. There are 150 Council owned and 152 privately owned bridges which carry public roads in the city 500 workers put in 314,000 hours during the project which also involved constructing a temporary footbridge to maintain pedestrian access and a temporary service bridge to maintain public utilities including gas, water, telecommunications and electricity supplies As part of the Titwood Road Bridge renewal, the bridge at Nithsdale Road was opened up to three lanes from two and strengthened from 12 tonnes to 40 tonnes

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