Media centre

Thursday 17 Apr 2003

RAILWAY ENGINEERING WORK AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES EASTER 2003

Region & Route:

| Southern

As part of the continued drive to deliver a safe and reliable railway, Network Rail will be carrying out engineering work at various sites across East Anglia. The work has been specifically programmed around the Easter holidays to ensure peak travel periods are largely unaffected.  This engineering work has been planned in consultation with Network Rail’s customers, the train and freight operating companies.  Passengers are advised to check their travel arrangements with National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or individual operators before making their journey. During the Easter Holidays maintenance and renewal work will be undertaken round-the-clock at a number of locations.  Two miles of track will be renewed between Witham and Braintree, where replacement buses will run all weekend.              The mechanical signalling system is being worked on at Colchester Town.  Therefore the station will be closed, but a replacement bus service will run on Saturday 19 April.  Points maintenance will take place between Cambridge and Waterbeach.  As a result, a replacement bus service will run on Sunday 20 April between Cambridge and Ely.  - more - Easter – 2 Points work is also taking place between Woodgrange Park and Barking.  Over the Easter weekend, Silverlink will be running an amended service between Gospel Oak and Barking via South Tottenham including a replacement bus service at certain times. The £184m West Anglia Route Modernisation project (WARM), which is upgrading the signalling system from Liverpool Street station to Stansted Airport, is currently in its fifth stage and the holiday marks an essential period of activity.  The line from Cheshunt to Stansted Airport, including the Hertford East branch will be closed all day on Sunday 20 April.  A replacement bus service will be in operation. Mark Phillips, East Anglia Regional Director, designate, Network Rail said: “The window of opportunity at Easter is essential to the continued maintenance and renewal needed on the region’s infrastructure.  During this time we will be doing our utmost to ensure disruption to passengers and those living beside the railway is kept to a minimum.” To coincide with the holidays, Network Rail has intensified its railway crime education programme.  Trends show that railway crime increases during holiday periods.  To help combat this educational leaflets have been distributed to ‘hot spot’ locations, a workshop targeting 1,200 children in Harlow has been completed and a school talks have taken place in Tottenham and South Essex.  Along with the targeted programmes, Network Rail also sponsors ‘Football in the Community,’ a nationwide education programme aimed at teaching children the importance of safety – while having fun. Several clubs in East Anglia have courses throughout the year and especially during holiday periods.  See notes to editors for further details. Network Rail also looks at other options of combating railway crime.  Over the holidays new vandal proof equipment will be trialled in Angel Road on the West Anglia route out of Liverpool Street.  - more - Easter - 3 New lockable troughing lids, which cover electrical cables are being installed.  They are made out of a fire resistant, hard wearing anti-slip plastic so they are more durable and harder to remove from the trackside than traditional concrete troughing lids.  If this trial is successful the scheme will be rolled out in strategic locations across East Anglia. Jim Hagan, Regional Operations and Safety Manager, Network Rail said: “Safety is Network Rail’s top priority and we aim to increase safety and reduce railway crime through education programmes, working in partnership with the British Transport Police and the railway industry, and innovative safety solutions.”