Friday 2 Jul 2004

PHOTOCALL…PHOTOCALL…PHOTOCALL

Region & Route:
| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
| Wales & Western
Date:  Thursday 8 July 2004 Time: 12:05 Place: Site of the new Rhoose Station (see Editor’s Notes) What: The official start of works on the Barry Town to Bridgend railway line, restoring passenger services to the Vale of Glamorgan for the first time since early 1960s, is to be marked with a sod-cutting ceremony. Two JCB diggers, controlled by Network Rail’s Chief Executive John Armitt and the Welsh Assembly’s Minister for Economics and Transport Andrew Davies, will be choreographed to perform a sod-cutting ceremony.  Strategic Rail Authority Chairman and Chief Executive, Richard Bowker, will direct them.  The media are invited to photograph the event,  and Mr Armitt, Mr Davies and Mr Bowker will be available for interview (see Editor’s Notes). The project includes building new stations at Llanwit Major and Rhoose, together with a new bay platform at Bridgend.  Additional signalling will be provided to increase the capacity of the route, and the track will be upgraded to allow trains to travel at higher speeds.

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