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Friday 12 Sep 2014

Rail minister visits £280m rail project in Lincolnshire

Region & Route:

Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, visited Lincolnshire on Thursday 11 September to view progress on the £280m project to upgrade and modernise a key rail artery that will enable more and better services to run.

The Government-funded ‘GNGE project’ will finish later this year and will help to meet growing demand for rail services in the region. It will also become an important diversionary route for the East Coast Main Line, allowing improved services to run during improvement work and times of disruption

Baroness Kramer officially opened a new underpass in Heighington which provides a safe walking route underneath the railway for the many school children who use the route every day.

The minister also visited the reinstated rail bypass at Sleaford that enables freight services to bypass Sleaford, improving rail capacity and reducing congestion in the town centre.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “It is a huge pleasure to be here in Lincolnshire to see how this vital project is already benefiting local people and passengers.

“Our ambition is to have a railway fit for the 21st century which is why we are investing more than £38bn over the next five years to maintain and enhance our network. That means more trains, seats and quicker and more reliable journeys for passengers.”

Justin Page, area director for Network Rail, added: “This is a complex project involving many miles of railway line between Peterborough and Gainsborough which is used by both passenger and freight trains. This vital project will enable more trains to run, helping to meet growing demand for rail services. It will also act as an important diversionary route for the East Coast Main Line at times of disruption or engineering work.”

Stephen Phillips MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham said: ““I welcome the completion of the Heighington underpass, as it will ensure that local residents, particularly children, are safer when crossing from one side of the line to the other. I am also glad to see that the Sleaford rail bypass has now been returned to full use, so freight trains can bypass the town significantly reducing traffic congestion. These projects show how important Government investment is to communities like ours, and I am delighted to see the fruits of this funding in our area.”