Media centre

Wednesday 5 Mar 2008

NETWORK RAIL ANNOUNCES EASTER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail has announced that improvements will be delivered across the country this Easter with 29km of track laid, new signalling and points, and the replacement of a 50m viaduct on the Cumbria Coast. This investment, totalling £75m, will lead to a more reliable, better performing railway, and a better service for passengers. Six locations in Wales and the West Country will benefit from this series of engineering work, which includes the final phase of an £8.8million project in Swindon to improve track condition and increase line speed in the area. Majority of the engineering work planned throughout Wales and the West Country will be completed within three days, with minimal disruptions to train services. For more details on Network Rail's major Easter works visit www.networkrail.co.uk Iain Coucher, Network Rail Chief Executive said: "In just four days over Easter Network Rail will deliver 300,000 hours of improvement work across the country. Around 6,000 engineers will be working day and night to meet demands for a better railway from the travelling public.

"Following the New Year, we have listened to passengers and those who represent them and now our planning and preparation is more robust than ever. Each project is an immense engineering challenge in its own right, and Network Rail is absolutely determined to deliver a safe and reliable railway back to passengers and freight users at the promised time. "Because of the volume of work this Easter, we're advising people to double check their travel plans. We'll be working closely with the train operating companies and National Rail Enquiries to make sure that the very latest information is available." Network Rail is working closely with train operators, Passenger Focus and other partners in the rail industry to get up to date information to passengers before they travel. Travel information for Easter has been available from National Rail Enquiries for several weeks. For more details on Network Rail’s major Easter works visit www.networkrail.co.uk/ Engineering work in Wales and the West Country: Swindon – Didcot Parkway: Line between Swindon and Didcot Parkway will be closed from 21 March to 24 March for final phase of track renewal to be completed with new layout at the east-end of Swindon station. Replacement buses will operate between Swindon and Didcot Parkway. Chippenham – Swindon: The main line between Swindon and Chippenham will be closed from 21 March to 24 March for structural maintenance work of the embankment along the line. Trains travelling to and fro London will be diverted via Newbury. Replacement bus services will operate between Swindon and Chippenham. Frome Station: Frome station will be closed from 21 March to 23 March for general track renewal work between Frome Station and Whatley Quarry. All train services from Frome station will call at Westbury station. A replacement bus service will also be operating between Westbury and Frome. Par – Newquay: The branch line between Par and Newquay will be closed from 21 March to 25 March for the replacement of tracks running across the Prideaux viaduct. Replacement bus services will operate between Par and Newquay. Gloucester – Severn Tunnel Junction: Line will be closed on Easter Sunday, 23 March, for the construction of signal gantries across all lines, this project is part of the Newport re-signalling programme. All train services will be replaced with road transport between Newport and Gloucester. Abercynon – Merthyr: Line between Abercynon and Merthyr and Abercynon and Aberdare will be closed on 23 March to 24 March for track remodelling work at Abercynon. The project is part of the overall enhancement scheme to provide more frequent services on the Cardiff Valleys lines. Replacement buses will operate between Cardiff and Aberdare/Merthyr For advice on journeys and ticket information, passengers should contact National Rail Enquiries at: www.nationalrail.co.uk or on 08457 48 49 50.