Media centre

Friday 7 Aug 2020

Network Rail holds information events ahead of major resignalling project between Newark and Lincoln

Region & Route:

Eastern: East Midlands

Network Rail is inviting residents to find out more about improvement work which will take place on the line between Lincoln and Newark in 2022, as part of a major resignalling project.

The multi-million-pound project will see old telecommunications and signalling technology, which is used to control trains and manage level crossings, recontroled to the state-of-the-art Lincoln Signalling Control Centre. This means that Swinderby mechanical signal box will be closed. The improvements will bring a more modern, reliable railway for passengers on the route.

There will be various improvements at 14 level crossings on the line, including work to upgrade the barriers and install obstacle detection technology and warning lights. This will improve safety for level crossing users, and make the crossings more reliable, with fewer delays for passengers.

Work will also take place to close Cross Lane level crossing in Collingham, Nottinghamshire and construct a new road which will not cross over the railway, again, helping to improve safety in the area.

Once complete, this work will mean that trains running between Newark and Lincoln can travel at higher speeds. Currently, the line speed ranges between 50mph and 70mph on this section of the route. Following the work, it will be raised to 75mph, which will help to speed up journeys for passengers.

Ahead of work beginning, Network Rail is inviting residents to find out more about the scheme by attending one of our early public information events. These will take place on:

• Wednesday, 12 August between 14:30 and 18:30 at Collingham Memorial Hall
• Thursday, 13 August between 14:30 and 18:30 at Best Western Hotel in South Hykeham

Residents do not need to book to attend an event, however, in line with Government guidance, social distancing measures will be in place and a strict limit on the number of people allowed in the venues at any one time. This means residents may be asked to wait outside until they can be accommodated safely in the hall.

Anyone who cannot or doesn’t wish to attend the events can call the Network Rail National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 for more information. Network Rail has also written to residents in the area with information of the events as well as the upgrades which will take place.

Tom Harman, Project Manager for Network Rail, said: “This major improvement work between Newark and Lincoln will bring a more modern and reliable railway for passengers, with faster journeys and fewer delays.

“The majority of this work will be carried out in 2022, but we are giving residents the opportunity to find out more about the project at this early stage at the information events.

“Our teams will be working to minimise disruption as much as possible, and we will keep residents who live near the railway updated as further progress is made.” 

ENDS