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Friday 20 Feb 2004

RAILWAY GETS A SPRING CLEAN

Region & Route:

| Southern

Half a mile of track at Third Drove level crossing, in between Ely and March, is getting a spring clean this Sunday.  The ballast, which makes up the tracks’ foundations, is being cleaned and 2000 tonnes of new ballast laid down. 20 men, working three shifts, will help the massive ‘ballast-munching’ machine complete its task.  The machine works its way along the track scooping up the old ballast, sifting and cleaning it.  Ballast, which is not suitable to be reused, is then placed on conveyor belts and removed to spoil wagons.  New ballast replaces the volume taken away.      Once the ballast machine has finished its spring-cleaning chores, railway workers ensure the track is suitable for the next high tech machine, the tamper. The tamper’s job is to align the rail to make sure that it is level ensuring a smooth ride for passengers.  This is all done with computers, which calculate the current level and work out what adjustments the big machine needs to make. Jon Wiseman, Network Rail General Manager said:  “Network Rail proactively carries out maintenance work to ensure the track and its components are maintained to a high standard. The track between Ely and March not only serves passenger trains, but also heavy freight traffic meaning that maintenance work is imperative.” - more -      Clean – 2 Third Drove level crossing will be closed on Sunday 22 with a local diversionary route in place. Buses will replace trains between Ely and Peterborough.  For service information call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or consult www.angliarailways.co.uk.