Media centre

Friday 11 Apr 2003

RESIGNALLING AT PADDINGTON

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail's current £30m investment into the resignalling of the approaches to Paddington station, begun last autumn, will mean that the station will close over the Easter weekend.  Over 40 signals are being replaced by Network Rail’s contractor Westinghouse Rail, covering all six tracks over the two-mile stretch of route between London’s Paddington station and Ladbroke Grove. The new layout will also benefit from the recent work to install train protection warning system (TPWS).  The new signals will use fibre optic technology, with a single aspect display, which changes colour, improving visibility and line-of-sight for train drivers. In order to carry out this essential work there will inevitably be some disruption to train services.   There have been 8-12 hour track possessions, mainly on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and during Easter 2003, on Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday and Monday, all lines will be blocked.  (2300 on Thursday 17 April - 0420 Tuesday 22 April). Trains from and into London will use Ealing Broadway, where passengers can join London Underground services.  With no lifts and more limited services at Ealing Broadway, it is recommended that disabled customers or customers requiring special assistance use the London Waterloo/Reading service for that part of their journey.  Full details of revised services are being made available by all Train Operating Companies at stations, websites and through National Rail Enquiries. -more- Paddington – 2 Network Rail Great Western director John Curley said:  “We would like to apologise in advance to everyone who is affected by the huge amount of engineering work taking place on this stretch of line.  This work is part of our commitment to provide a safe and reliable railway. ”