Media centre

Monday 29 Sep 2003

NETWORK RAIL TAKES CONTROL OF CTRL PHASE 1 HIGH SPEED RAIL LINK

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail took operational control of the high speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link on Sunday 29 September. Ownership of CTRL phase 1 remains with London and Continental Railways (LCR), but Network Rail has taken on full responsibility for operation and maintenance of the high-speed line. A dedicated team, at Ashford, who are responsible for the day to day operations, signalling, electrical control, engineering and maintenance of the CTRL. The team also provides a range of other important services for CTRL including, operational control, timetabling, customer liaison with Eurostar and management of the CTRL performance regime.  It is Britain’s first major new railway for over a century and Eurostar services operate at speeds of up to 300 km per hour (186 miles per hour), slashing journey times from Waterloo to the tunnel by around 15 minutes.  Services operating from Waterloo International to Fawkham Junction run over existing routes, which have been substantially upgraded by Network Rail to provide greater capacity and reliability.  At the heart of this work is the new grade separated junction at Shortlands, which eliminates conflicting movements and unlocks capacity for Eurostar, Connex and freight services. Union Railways constructed the 46 mile long, £1.9bn Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), which was brought into use for passengers yesterday.  The link stretches from the Channel Tunnel at Cheriton and includes a tunnel beneath the North Downs and a superb viaduct over the River Medway before reaching Fawkham Junction on the existing Swanley to Rochester route. Network Rails Regional Director Robin Gisby said, “Building CTRL is a great achievement and Network Rail are pleased to play their part in delivering a new era of high speed, high quality rail services in the UK.”