Media centre

Friday 8 Apr 2016

Preparations for brand new fleet of electric trains under way in Newport

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

The first phase of the reconstruction of Bridge Street Road Bridge in Newport city centre took place at the weekend (2 and 3 April 2016) with a temporary bridge installed as part of the essential upgrade work to prepare the bridge for a brand new fleet of electric trains.

The work is part of Network Rail’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers.

The temporary bridge next to Bridge Street will enable gas, electricity and water utilities to be diverted while the bridge is reconstructed. The reconstruction is necessary to allow electric cables to be installed above the railway which runs underneath the road bridge, paving the way for a brand new fleet of electric trains. A 600ft crane was used to lift the services bridge into position in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The bridge, which dates back to 1911, is being replaced with a brand new structure, fit for modern day city centre traffic and will provide increased accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Andrew Griffiths, programme manager for Network Rail Wales said: “Reconstruction of the bridge is essential as we prepare the South Wales Mainline for electrification. Electrifying the railway will provide a faster, greener more reliable rail service for passengers and improved air quality for those living near the railway and we’d like to thank passengers and the public for their patience while we carry out this essential improvement work.”

Network Rail has held a series of public meetings and drop-in sessions across Newport engaging with residents, road users and railway passengers about the works and to explain how electrification will benefit both railway neighbours and passengers.

A further two drop in sessions will be hosted by Network Rail in April:

• Wednesday 27 April from 3 -7pm in St Woolos Cathedral Stow Hill
• Thursday 28 April from 10.30am – 2.30pm in Newport Indoor Market

A temporary drop-in centre will also be open at 34 Bridge Street from Monday 25 April until Friday 29 April, from 10am till 2pm daily, with Network Rail representatives available to answer any questions and provide information about the programme of work.

ENDS

Notes to editor

Traffic changes

The road over the bridge will be reduced to one lane, with road traffic controlled by traffic lights every Sunday until it is closed to all traffic from 3 May 2016 until late 2016 to safely complete the essential upgrade work. The existing bridge will be removed in late June and the new bridge installed in September.

The Railway Upgrade Plan

The Railway Upgrade Plan is Network Rail’s £40bn spending plan for Britain’s railways for the five year period up to 31 March 2019. The plan is designed to provide more capacity, relieve crowding and respond to tremendous growth the railways have seen – a doubling of passengers in the past twenty years. The plan will deliver a bigger, better railway with more trains, longer trains, faster trains with more infrastructure, more reliable infrastructure and better facilities for passengers, especially at stations.