Thursday 14 Sep 2006
NETWORK RAIL INVESTS £2.2 MILLION IN STOKE – DERBY ROUTE
- Region & Route:
Passengers will soon be benefiting from smoother, more reliable journeys thanks to a £2.2 million investment in the railway between Stoke-on-Trent and Derby.
Network Rail is spending the money to renew more than 7,000 yards of track in four locations along the route. The programme, which will take place from Sunday 24 September to Sunday 1 October, will include replacing the old jointed track with continuous welded rail to give a smoother ride for passengers. Ballast and sleepers will be replaced to ensure the future reliability of the line and reduce the need for future maintenance. For eight days beginning on Sunday 24 September, train services will be replaced by buses calling at all stations between Stoke-on-Trent and Derby. Passengers can obtain timetable information online at www.centraltrains.co.uk or by telephone from National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50. Tom Birch, Network Rail Area General Manager for the East Midlands said: “Network Rail is committed to delivering a world class railway and this project will ensure passengers enjoy more reliable services for years to come. We have worked with Central Trains to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum whilst this important work is carried out. Our engineers will be working around the clock until the job is done and we hand back the line to passengers on 2 October.” The project is the second major investment on the North Staffordshire route this year, in January £2.5 million was invested to replace over 4 miles of track.
Notes to editors
Media enquiries: Central Trains - 0121 654 1278 Timetable information; Sun 24th September to Sun 1st October (provided by Central Trains): • Buses will replace trains in both directions between Derby and Stoke on Trent. • On weekdays some buses will call at all stations and for the benefit of commuters some buses will run ‘non-stop’ between the two cities Passengers are advised to allow more time for their journeys and are also reminded that bicycles cannot be taken on substitute bus services Road diversions and work locations: The four locations to be renewed are Newtons Farm, Tutbury, Blyth Bridge and Egginton During the project, the following level crossings will be closed with local traffic diversions in place. Cresswell Level Crossing, Cresswell Lane-from: 22.00 Tuesday 26th Sept to 06.00 Wednesday 27th Sept 22.00 Wednesday 27th to 06.00 Thursday 28th Sept 22.00 Thursday 28th to 06.00 Monday 2nd October Mill Lane Level Crossing, Mill Lane- from 06.00 Tuesday 26th Sept to 06.00 Thursday 28th Sept Egginton Level Crossing, Etwall Road- from 08.00 Friday 29th Sept to 05.45 Monday 2nd October.
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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