Media centre

Monday 18 Jul 2005

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR HISTORIC VIADUCTS

Region & Route:

| Southern

Passengers in Sussex will feel the benefits of major renewal and refurbishment projects to two railway viaducts on the lines to East Grinstead and Uckfield.  Network Rail will be investing over three million pounds overhauling both Riddlesdown and Oxted viaducts to ensure train performance doesn’t suffer on this busy route. Andrew Munden, Network Rail Route Director, Sussex said: “These viaducts are more than 100 years old and, like any structure of that age, need regular maintenance and servicing to ensure they’re fit for purpose.  Overhauling the viaducts at Riddlesdown and Oxted is essential to ensuring we maintain a good level of service for passengers who use this route.”  Network Rail has already started preliminary work on the Riddlesdown Viaduct and will be on site at Oxted in several weeks.  Over the next few months engineers will be blast cleaning and repainting the viaducts and carrying out extensive repairs to the steelwork.  Work will take place mainly during daytime hours, and passenger services will not be affected during the project.  The work is expected to be completed early in the New Year.