Media centre

Tuesday 15 Jun 2004

NETWORK RAIL’S STATION CHALLENGE PROJECT

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Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive, Iain Coucher set a ‘challenge’ for staff in the North West to complete as many low cost/ high visual projects at stations before the end of the financial year.  Network Rail in partnership with First North Western ensured that Northwich station would benefit from the scheme.  A team of engineers joined forces with contractors Serco Rail Property to rise to the challenge and complete 14 projects under a budget of £500,000.  The work completed throughout the challenge included such things as: ·        Road resurfacing ·        New lighting at stations ·        Car park refurbishment ·        Roof and canopy refurbishments ·        Drainage and resurfacing work Work at Northwich involved a total refurbishment of the canopy on the station, which had suffered from severe vandalism.  The remaining damaged glazing was removed, the steel support structure was repaired and renewed where necessary and new vandal resistant glass-reinforced plastic glazing panels were fixed in position using aluminium beading. The cost of the refurbishment was just under £100,000, which was split between Network Rail and First North Western. Dave Hook, First North Western’s property manager, said: “We are continuously working with Network Rail to improve station facilities where we can and are delighted our passengers at Northwich are going to benefit from the recent work there.”   - more - Challenge – 2 Network Rail’s Area General Manager, Andrew Skidmore said: “We are pleased to have completed this challenge in such a small timescale.  The work has made significant improvements to stations all over the North West.  “In carrying out these mini projects we have tried to create a more pleasant experience for rail passengers.  The challenge was to produce low cost, maximum impact results in order to improve facilities for visitors at local stations.”