NETWORK RAIL INVESTS £5 MILLION IN SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE’S RAILWAY

Monday 15 Jan 2007

NETWORK RAIL INVESTS £5 MILLION IN SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE’S RAILWAY

Region & Route:

Passengers will soon benefit from smoother, more reliable journeys following a £5 million investment in the railway in South Lincolnshire by Network Rail.

The project, which starts on 4 February, involves 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. Dyan Crowther, Network Rail Route Director, said: “Network Rail is committed to delivering a world class railway and this investment will ensure passengers enjoy more reliable services for years to come. We have worked with Central Trains and Lincolnshire County Council to ensure disruption for passengers and motorists is kept to a minimum whilst this important work is carried out.” Replacement bus services will be laid on by Central Trains throughout the month. From Sunday 4 February until the early morning of Saturday 17 February buses will replace trains between Spalding and Sleaford. Trains will run between Peterborough and Spalding and between Sleaford, Lincoln and Doncaster. From Monday 19 until early morning on Saturday 24 February, buses will also replace trains calling at stations between Skegness and Boston. At Boston, passengers can connect with train services to Sleaford, Grantham and Nottingham. Passengers are advised to allow more time for their journeys. Travel information is available on-line at www.centraltrains.co.uk or by phone from National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50. Gavin Bell, Central Trains’ Director of Network Services added: “We’re working closely with Network Rail and bus companies to ensure that passengers are still able to travel to all their usual local destinations during this essential work. We will be following our normal timetables as closely as possible but journey times may be affected by road conditions.” To allow this essential work to be completed there will be level crossing closures along the line between Spalding and Sleaford between the 2 and 17 February. Network Rail has worked with Lincolnshire County Council to ensure diversionary routes are provided for motorists.

Notes to editors

• Network Rail will be replacing 10,000 yards of jointed track at Sleaford with continuous welded rail – an investment of £4 million. £1.25 million will also be invested at Seacroft and Havenhouse near Skegness as nearly 3,000 yards of jointed track is replaced with continuous welded rail • Network Rail will be undertaking substantial investment in the Boston - Skegness route in the period up to 2010 and is currently in discussions about the exact scope of the work, how much track will be replaced and how much will be invested in the route. • In the short term, further investment is planned for the Skegness area in 2007/08 with track renewals scheduled for Wainfleet and Havenhouse. • Level Crossing Closures along the route between Sleaford and Spalding, 2 – 17 February: WOOLRAM WYGATE 21:00 Friday 2 February 2007 – 06:30 Monday 5 February 2007 CHURCH END DROVE 08:00 Monday 5 February 2007 – 08:00 Monday 12 February 2007 NORTHGATE 08:00 Monday 5 February 2007 – 08:00 Thursday 8 February 2007 TOWN DROVE 08:00 Monday 5 February 2007 – 08:00 Thursday 8 February 2007 BLUE GOWT LANE 22:00 Monday 5 February 2007 – 06:00 Tuesday 6 February 2007. PARK ROAD 06:00 Wednesday 7 February 2007 – 12:00 Wednesday 7 February 2007 COWDALES DROVE 10:00 Thursday 8 February 2007 – 08:00 Monday 12 February 2007 ING DROVE 10:00 Thursday 8 February 2007 – 08:00 Monday 12 February 2007 WOOLRAM WYGATE 21:00 Monday 19 February 2007 – 07:00 Tuesday 20 February 2007 ING DROVE 21:00 Thursday 22 February 2007 – 07:00 Friday 23 February 2007 CHURCH END DROVE 21:00 Tuesday 27 February 2007 – 07:00 Wednesday 28 February 2007 COWDALES DROVE 21:00 Tuesday 27 February 2007 – 07:00 Wednesday 28 February 2007 NORTHGATE 21:00 Thursday 1 March 2007 – 07:00 Friday 2 March 2007 WOOLRAM WYGATE 21:00 Monday 12 March 2007 – 07:00 Tuesday 13 March 2007 ING DROVE 21:00 Thursday 15 March 2007 – 07:00 Friday 16 March 2007 CHURCH END DROVE 21:00 Tuesday 20 March 2007 – 07:00 Wednesday 21 March 2007 COWDALES DROVE 21:00 Tuesday 20 March 2007 – 07:00 Wednesday 21 March 2007 NORTHGATE 21:00 Thursday 22 March 2007 – 07:00 Friday 23 March 2007 WOOLRAM WYGATE 21:00 Monday 7 May 2007 – 07:00 Tuesday 8 May 2007 ING DROVE 21:00 Thursday 10 May 2007 – 07:00 Friday 11 May 2007 CHURCH END DROVE 21:00 Tuesday 15 May 2007 – 07:00 Wednesday 16 May 2007 COWDALES DROVE 21:00 Tuesday 15 May 2007 – 07:00 Wednesday 16 May 2007 NORTHGATE 21:00 Thursday 17 May 2007 – 07:00 Friday 18 May 2007 • About Central Trains: Central Trains is one of Britain’s major train companies, operating an extensive network of services throughout the Midlands. Central provides fast and frequent local rail services and long distance services run from the Midlands to South Wales, the North West, East Anglia and the East Coast. Services provided by Central Trains are an integral part of the Britain’s rail network – connecting with 19 out of the current 25 train operators. Every day: 1,323 Central Trains services travel 60,000 miles carrying 112,000 passenger journeys. Full details are available from Network Rail Enquiries (08457 484950), and Central Trains’ website, www.centraltrains.co.uk.

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