Media centre

Tuesday 31 Jan 2017

Network Rail to extend platforms at two stations in Nottinghamshire

Region & Route:

| Eastern

Network Rail will increase the length of two Nottinghamshire platforms as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan.

The platforms need to be extended following the successful completion of a £48 million project last year to upgrade the signalling of the railway in East Nottinghamshire.

The work at Fiskerton and Lowdham stations will begin on Saturday, 18 February and will be completed in May. The first stage of the improvement will be piling, the process of installing foundations – which will be carried out overnight. Piling involves driving steel piles deep into the ground to install foundations for the new section of platform.

The platform extensions are the final piece of the resignalling programme which has seen old-style mechanical signals on the line between Lowdham and Newark replaced with state-of-the-art digital models. Signalling control has also moved from lineside signal boxes to the East Midlands Control Centre in Derby.

The newly installed signals are located further down the platform than the previously used signals, which means that passengers travelling on longer trains currently have to exit via doors at the front of the train. The platform extension will put an end to this and create an easier journey for passengers.

Gary Walsh, area director for Network Rail in the East Midlands, said: “In the last year, we have carried out lots of improvements to the railway in East Nottinghamshire, as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. The work at Fiskerton and Lowdham will create an easier journey for passengers entering and exiting trains at these stations.”

There will be no disruption to passengers whilst the project is completed and Network Rail workers will be on site from Monday, 6 February to set-up a compound ahead of the work.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The new signals have been repositioned further down the platform to allow the new automatic level crossing equipment at Fiskerton to operate safely.