Media centre

Wednesday 7 Jan 2015

New bridge allows for faster services in future for passengers

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail engineers worked through the Christmas break to rebuild an ageing bridge as part of work to provide a modern, bigger and better railway.

The new bridge is larger and improved, which means it is better able to cater for the ever increasing demand for passenger and freight services. A speed restriction on the old cast iron bridge, over the River Teme near Ludlow, can finally be removed, allowing for faster services in the future for passengers.

Graeme Tandy, route delivery director for Network Rail Wales, said: “Our engineers worked around the clock over Christmas to complete a bridge replacement project near Ludlow in the shortest possible timeframe and we thank passengers and local residents for their patience while it was carried out.

“A speed restriction for passenger and freight trains will be removed, which will allow for faster services in the future.

“A robust railway is vital to a thriving economy and we are building a better railway, which is safer, more reliable and more efficient.”

One of the largest cranes in the country was used as part of the £7.7m project, weighing 1,200-tonne. It was used to replace the old bridge, which dated back to 1852 and had to be replaced as it had reached the end of its life.

The railway was closed between Hereford and Shrewsbury after the last trains on Christmas Eve and reopened on Tuesday 30 December to allow the work to be carried out safely on the line which connects North and South Wales.

Network Rail liaised closely with Arriva Trains Wales to ensure this upgrade took place at a traditionally quieter time and to provide passengers with information ahead of the work and as the work was carried out to minimise disruption as much as possible.