Thursday 29 Mar 2018
Network Rail Easter works prepare for vital phase of Aberdeen-Inverness improvements
- Region & Route:
- Scotland’s Railway: Scotland
Network Rail engineers will work around-the-clock over Easter to deliver a series of bridge works as part of the Aberdeen-Inverness (A2I) Improvement Project which will transform services in the north of Scotland.
As well as parapet (side wall) modifications at five bridges on the line between Aberdeen and Dyce, work will also see the demolition of old platforms at Kittybrewster and Woodside and vegetation clearance along the line. There will also be work on signalling systems and enabling work ahead of the 14 week line closure which begins in mid-May which will see the doubling of the track between Aberdeen and Dyce.
Work over the Easter weekend will be continuous from 11.55pm on Friday March 30 until 6am on Tuesday April 3 to take advantage of the reduced number of passengers using the line over the holiday period in order to minimise disruption
A2I is a Scottish Government funded enhancement of the railway between Inverness and Aberdeen that will see improved connectivity, increased capacity and improved reliability as well as enhancing links to the central belt.
Matthew Spence, delivery director for Network Rail Infrastructure Projects in Scotland, said: “The Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project is transforming train travel into the two cities and work over Easter is important preparation for the longer line closure in May which is in turn, crucial to the delivery of the overall project.
“Our engineers with contractors Bam Nuttall will work continuously over the Easter weekend and over the first May bank holiday to deliver important upgrades and clearance work on the line which will serve as enabling work for the longer line closure in May .
“While we appreciate that line closures are inconvenient for passengers, this project will ultimately transform services in the north of Scotland and will be warmly welcomed by everyone who uses the railway.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Notes to editors
The Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project is a Scottish Government-funded scheme to increase capacity on the route and improve services into the two cities, as well create capacity for two new stations at Inverness Airport and Kintore.
The project will provide a day-time hourly commuter service between Inverness and Elgin by May 2019 and a half hourly service between Aberdeen and Inverurie by the end of 2019,.
These new services will help to improve the flexibility the railway can offer the expanding communities around the two cities – opening up new job and leisure opportunities.
These new services will help to improve the flexibility the railway can offer the expanding communities around the two cities – opening up new job and leisure opportunities.
The work builds on what has already been delivered previously on the project which includes
1.5km of new track in Forres
New Forres station and link road
1.2km of new track in Elgin
Extended platforms at Elgin station
Upgraded Elgin level crossing to a full-barrier, CCTV crossing
Removed redundant signal boxes at Elgin and Forres
Upgraded signalling systems between Elgin and Inverness.
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