Media centre

Monday 2 Apr 2007

PHOTOCALL: RENEWING THE RAILWAY IN SOUTH WALES OVER EASTER

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Date: Thursday 5 April 2007 Time: 10am Location: Port Talbot Level Crossing (next to Port Talbot Station) Contact: Network Rail Media Relations: 01793 515267 Please note that a Welsh speaker will be available for interview

Members of the media are invited to view the start of works ahead of the completion of the first stage of a GBP400 million investment by Network Rail to improve train performance and reliability across South Wales. Mark Langman, Network Rail’s General Manager for Wales & Marches and John Pockett, First Great Western's Regional Manager for Wales (a Welsh speaker) will be available for interview to discuss the works and the alternative travel arrangements for passengers. The Port Talbot East Resignalling project, a 22-mile stretch of line running from Llantrisant to Baglan, is nearing completion. This important work will require the closure of the line between Cardiff and Swansea over the Easter weekend, from Friday 6 April - Monday 9 April. Mark Langman, Network Rail's General Manager for Wales & Marches, said: "This is the first major resignalling project in the area for many years and is also the forerunner for similar large-scale projects in England and Scotland, improving the reliability of the railway for passengers. "We know that disruption is always unwelcome, but this huge investment will improve the performance of the railway in the area and bring benefits to passengers across South Wales for years to come"” Throughout the closure, Network Rail's engineers will be testing and commissioning the new signalling, erecting two new signal structures at Bridgend and Port Talbot and recovering the old signal structures. Network Rail has worked closely with train operators Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western to put in place an amended timetable designed to keep disruption to a minimum. All Arriva Trains Wales services running between Swansea and Cardiff will be replaced by bus services for the duration of the works. Long distance, First Great Western high speed services, will start and terminate at Cardiff Central station with replacement bus services running between Cardiff Central, Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, and Neath. Mike Bagshaw, Arriva Trains Wales' Commercial Director, said: "This is a major investment by Network Rail which will benefit Arriva Trains Wales customers with a more reliable service. We apologise for the short-term disruption this will cause them but we are sure that they will understand the long term benefits of this work." John Pockett, First Great Western's Regional Manager for Wales, said: "This is an important project that will significantly improve the performance of train services and the reliability of the railway in the future, so customers really will benefit in the short and long term. We've planned replacement bus services to reduce disruption as much as we can, but it is inevitable that many people will be inconvenienced by this work, and for this we apologise in advance." Customers are advised to always check journey details before travelling by contacting National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or by checking the website www.nationalrail.co.uk.