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Tuesday 30 Jun 2009

RAIL WORK LEADS TO FASTER TRAIN JOURNEYS

Region & Route:

A major piece of work on the Settle – Carlisle line will mean Network Rail can remove a 30mph speed restriction that has been in place for nearly 40 years. By the autumn, trains will be able to travel at twice that speed, reducing delays to passenger services by 90 seconds and to freight by four and a half minutes.

The £6m plus project is in the Kirkby Thore area, which is riddled with mine workings connected to the nearby gypsum works. The ground in and around the site is unstable, so the speed restriction has been in place to ensure the safety of the trains.

Tony Wilcock, Network Rail’s territory civil engineer, explained the problem: “From time to time, ‘sink holes’ have appeared in land alongside the railway. These are like craters that have formed where the land has dropped into old mine workings.

“We cannot run the risk of one appearing under the railway itself, which is why there is a permanent speed restriction in place.”

Work will be carried out to three separate bridges, as well as to the railway embankment, and the track on a section of line nearly a mile long will be replaced during a closure of the line from 9 to 28 July.

Two of the bridges carry the railway over tracks between farmland. One will be strengthened while the other will be filled in with the agreement of the landowner.

The third bridge carries a single carriageway road over the railway between Kirkby Thore and the Milburn/Long Marton road and needs to be strengthened to bring it in line with modern-day standards. The road has been closed and diversions put in place.

While the track is removed for the bridge work to be carried out, two concrete slabs will be cast over the track bed to strengthen and stabilise it, should sink holes appear in the future. When the track is put back, continuously welded rails will be used to give a smoother, quieter ride for passengers and to cause less wear and tear to the track and trains.

Area director for Northern Rail, Steve Butcher, said: “Renewing nearly a mile of track and laying concrete slabs to stabilise the line will deliver much more reliable services for our passengers. The fact that our trains will be able to travel at twice their current speed over that section of track means they will no longer incur delays, which will help maintain our recent record performance levels.”

Paul Bates, managing director of DB Schenker's energy segment, added: "The work in this area is necessary and once completed will deliver benefits to rail freight customers. Network Rail's engineering project will lead to reduction in freight journey times, enhancing the importance of the Settle and Carlisle railway as a key rail freight route."

Passengers travelling on the Settle – Carlisle line during the closure are advised to contact national rail enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or log on to www.nationalrail.co.uk