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Tuesday 3 Jan 2023

New year, new track: Smoother journeys through York station after Christmas refresh

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Passengers travelling through York station can look forward to smoother, more reliable journeys after Network Rail refreshed nearly three kilometres of track through the platforms.

The £6 million upgrade will help to drive down delays, getting passengers where they need to be on time, and improve the track’s condition for many years to come.

Between Christmas Eve and Monday 2 January, engineers replaced 2.7 km of track, renewed nine sets of points (which allow trains to move from one section of track to another), and improved some vital signalling equipment.

To ready the route for a cold winter, teams also improved specialist heaters on the track which play an important role in melting snow and ice so that trains can run reliably whatever the weather.

Strike action over the Christmas period initially saw this work placed under review, but specially trained and fully qualified back up staff were able to step up and help deliver these major benefits for passengers.

Paul Rutter, East Coast Route Director for Network Rail said: “I’m so pleased that we were able to push ahead with this work despite the strike action and do the right thing for passengers. Better equipment and new weather-ready tracks will all help to offer more reliable journeys through York.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their support and patience over the festive period and look forward to welcoming them back to the railway throughout 2023.”

Further strike action is planned between Tuesday 3 and Saturday 7 January, which will see a reduced train service. Passengers should only travel if it’s absolutely necessary and check their first and last train times via National Rail Enquiries or their train operator’s website.

ENDS