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Friday 25 Apr 2008

NETWORK RAIL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME – HOW IS YOUR TRAVEL AFFECTED THIS BANK HOLIDAY? (Southern England)

Region & Route:

| Southern

As part of its multi-billion pound programme of improvements for the railway, Network Rail has today announced details of the work that will affect passengers this bank holiday weekend.

Over the long weekend some £75m of investment will be made across the country, all aimed at delivering a more reliable, better performing railway, and a better service for passengers. Around 5,000 people will be working day and night to deliver 250,000 man hours of improvements to the railway network.

At Clapham Junction, further work will take place to renew vital track components, with a £1.5m investment over the May bank holiday leading to smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers and reducing the need for future maintenance.

Work continues on a £130m project in the Basingstoke area that will see the introduction of a modern signalling system and provide associated improvements in the reliability and flexibility of train movements, leading to a reduction in delays.

Similar benefits are also being delivered by a £25m investment at Barnham in Sussex, where we will carry out track work as part of an ongoing project to renew the area’s signalling system.

In Kent, waterproofing works at Cray Viaduct, between St Mary Cray and Swanley, will extend the life of the structure and reduce the need for future maintenance. Other work along the Kent route includes a £2m project to strengthen and weatherproof bridges on the line between Waterloo East and Charing Cross.

For more details on Network Rail's major May bank holiday works visit www.networkrail.co.uk

Iain Coucher, Network Rail chief executive said: “The work over the May bank holiday is all about improving the railway for passengers and freight users. Over the long weekend we’ll be investing millions of pounds to make services more reliable, more punctual and in some cases faster and more frequent.

“Whilst the overwhelming majority of services remain unaffected, our message to passengers is to check before you travel. We'll be working closely with the train operating companies and National Rail Enquiries to provide the very latest information both online, via help-lines and at stations."