Thursday 8 Oct 2009
NETWORK RAIL TAKES FIRST STEPS IN DONCASTER RAIL UPGRADE
- Region & Route:
Rail passengers can look forward to improved East Coast Main Line services as Network Rail starts work on upgrading the railway near Doncaster this week. Environmental surveys are taking place in the area around Shaftholme Junction, a few miles north of the town, where investment will be targeted. The plans will complement improvements along the length of the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh.
Richard Lungmuss, route director, said: “This investment in Doncaster is just one part of our plans to improve the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh. Doncaster sits at the heart of this busy line, so passengers will see real benefits in terms of more frequent trains and reduced delays. Once our plans are prepared, we’ll be holding a public consultation so that local people can see our proposals and let us know what they think.”
Shaftholme Junction is a congested part of the Main Line, and demand for passenger services on the line is increasing all the time. Network Rail’s plans involve the construction of an elevated railway, taking slow freight trains over the Main Line, reducing congestion, and delivering more frequent, more reliable high speed passenger services through Doncaster.
Once initial investigations have been completed and designs produced, the local community will have the opportunity to have their say on the plans in a full public consultation.
The surveys currently being undertaken at Shaftholme will provide information on the environmental impact of the scheme, helping Network Rail to minimise the impact on habitats and where possible to enhance the biodiversity of the area. These are the first of a number of surveys over the coming months as detailed plans for the scheme are prepared.
Notes to editors
1. The surveys being conducted are a vital part of understanding how best to construct the Shaftholme scheme and minimise its impact on the area. All individuals whose land surveyors will need to access have been contacted in advance and will continue to be made aware of future surveys that affect them.
2. The Shaftholme scheme is just one of many projects planned along the length of the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh, designed to increase the frequency and reliability of trains and the speed of journeys. These include a fourth line at York Holgate junction, upgrades to the railway at Peterborough station, an elevated railway at Hitchin and an extra line between Alexandra Palace and Finsbury Park.
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