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Thursday 14 Jan 2016

Residents invited to Royal Wootton Bassett drop-in event as railway upgrade work approaches

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Royal Wootton Bassett residents are invited to attend a drop-in event to find out more about the latest plans to prepare three bridges in the town for the arrival of a new fleet of electric trains.

The event will take place between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday 4 February at the Lime Kiln Leisure Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett. Members of the Network Rail project team will be on hand throughout to explain the plans and to answer any questions.

As part of its Railway Upgrade Plan, Network Rail will be reconstructing two bridges on Marlborough Road/Broad Town and the A3102 Bath Road, and lowering the track underneath the listed Hunts Mill bridge.

The reconstructed bridges and track lowering work will create the additional space needed for the overhead electrification lines that will power a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains to run underneath, while protecting the historic architecture of Hunts Mill bridge.

As Bath Road bridge is located nearby, the company is continuing to work closely with Wiltshire Council on the design for the reconstruction to ensure it is in keeping with its current appearance and sympathetic to Hunts Mill bridge.

To minimise disruption for the local community while this improvement work takes place, the orange army has built a temporary link road between the two bridges to ensure residents don’t have to use a lengthy diversion route.

Andy Haynes, Network Rail’s project director for the west of England, said: “The improvement work we are carrying out in Royal Wootton Bassett is extensive, but essential to bring our railway into the 21^st century. It was very important to us in planning this work to not only minimise disruption, by building the temporary road, but to carry out the work sensitively to protect the town’s listed architecture.

“Everyone is welcome at our drop-in event and I’d urge anyone who wants to know more about our plans or has a question they’d like answered to come along.

“These improvements are much needed and will pave the way for electrification and the benefits this will bring for residents. These include faster trains with more seats and more legroom, and less noise and pollution for those who live close to the railway line.”

The reconstruction of Marlborough Road/Broad Town bridge will take place between March and early September 2016. From 6 March the bridge will be closed to traffic and the temporary link road will be in use as the diversion route. A temporary footbridge will be in place for pedestrians and cyclists to use throughout.

Work on the A3102 Bath Road bridge is due to take place between October 2016 and March 2017, the exact dates of which will be confirmed in due course.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the Great Western Electrification Programme

Electrification will transform the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff to deliver a faster, greener, quieter and more reliable railway for passengers, with extra capacity. Electrifying this part of the Great Western route will enhance 235 miles of one of Britain’s busiest and oldest railways, better connecting major towns and cities across southern England and South Wales. This investment, as well as the introduction of a fleet of new trains, will improve journey times and make services more comfortable, smoother, cleaner and quieter for passengers and people living near the railway.

For more information about the Great Western Electrification Programme, visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/