PHOTOCALL: MAKING TRACKS AT NEWPORT STATION: Andrew Davies with Robbie Burns

Monday 4 Dec 2006

PHOTOCALL: MAKING TRACKS AT NEWPORT STATION

Region & Route:
| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
| Wales & Western
  • Date: Wednesday 13 December 2007
  • Time: 9am
  • Venue: Newport Station, Platform 4
  • Event: Robbie Burns, Network Rail’s Western Route Director and Andrew Davies, Minster for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks view Newport's new platform
  • Contact: Network Rail Media Relations, 01793 515267

Photographers and journalists are invited to view and discuss the works that are currently underway to transform Platform 4 at Newport Station. Newport Station will be benefiting from an extended platform as part of Network Rail's extensive investment to improve performance and reliability of the railway in South Wales. The new platform will be completed by summer 2007 and will ease congestion for trains coming into and departing from Newport Station. Robbie Burns, Network Rail’s Western Route Director, said: “This is an exciting time for Newport - not only are we extending Platform 4 to enable a wide range of services to stop here, but we are also working with the Welsh Assembly Government to transform the rest of the station.” As part of the £5.5 million Network Rail funded project, passengers will benefit from new waiting facilities, state of the art information systems, modern security systems and improved lighting on Platform 4. Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, said: "I very much welcome this redevelopment of Newport Station Platform 4 to full operational length. "It will improve passenger facilities and is the first step towards a wider improvement programme for Newport Station, which is due to be completed prior to the Ryder cup in 2010. "

Notes to editors

Part of the project involved moving a freight depot adjacent to Newport Station to Alexandra Dock Junction.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office -Western route
MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk

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