Tuesday 24 Jun 2014
Selby bridge improvements ready to swing into action
- Region & Route:
The major refurbishment of Selby swing bridge is fast-approaching, and local people can find out more by coming to an open day on Thursday, 3 July.
The drop-in event will be on the ground floor of the site offices on Ousegate, Selby, from 10am to 7pm. Members of the Network Rail Selby team and staff from the train operating companies will be on-hand to answer questions and discuss the road closures and changes to train services needed to complete the work.
The £14m investment, which starts on Saturday, 26 July, will be the most significant improvement made to the bridge since it was built in 1889.
It includes steelwork repairs, replacing and strengthening sections of the bridge and a new coat of paint. Work on the bridge’s hydraulic system will be undertaken and the track which runs across the bridge will be replaced. New walkways and steps for bridge operators are also being installed.
The work is planned to finish in time for normal rail services to resume on Monday, 8 September.
Phil Verster, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, said: “Once these improvements are complete, many parts of the bridge will not need any further work for decades. It will also mean an existing speed restriction on passenger services will be lifted. We will have people working on site all day, every day, to get this work finished.
“We have worked hard with train operators to put the best possible alternative travel arrangements in place.
“We thank passengers, local residents and businesses for their patience while the work is carried out.”
Weight restrictions will also be removed after the work, which will mean freight trains can move more freely along the route. The bridge itself will also look smarter, which will be better for the town.
A spokesperson representing the train operators said: “We are working with Network Rail to minimise the disruption caused by the improvement works at Selby and put in place the best possible journey options for customers.
"Buses will replace a number of rail services and we will shortly be issuing updated timetables and customer information posters.
"We would advise customers to check the details of the travel and allow extra time to complete their journey. Full details of the improvements works and alternative arrangements will be available from National Rail Enquiries."
No trains can run over the bridge from the night of 26 July to start of service (0525) on 8 September. Passengers are advised to check details of their journey with National Rail Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk or 08457 48 49 50.
Network Rail’s 24-hour, helpline is available for anyone to report any issues with the rail infrastructures on 08457 11 41 41.
Notes to editors
Road closures - Ousegate will be closed:
- North carriageway (the low headroom section under span 2 of the bridge) – fully closed from 31 March to 30 November 2014
- South carriageway (the deeper, higher headroom carriageway under span 1 of the bridge) – half road closures under traffic management from 7 July to 21 July 2014
- Full road closure of both carriageways from 23 June to 6 July, and 21 July to 3 August 2014
Changes to train services - 2300 Saturday, 26 July to 0525 Monday, 8 September 2014:
From 26/07/14 to 07/09/14 there will be no rail traffic at all over the bridge:
- First TransPennine Express trains will not run between Selby and Hull
- Northern Rail trains will run York – Selby
- Buses Selby – Hull, York – Hull express buses
- Sheffield – Hull will be diverted via Goole
- First Hull Trains services between Hull and London King’s Cross will divert via Goole
- Rail replacement coaches will operate from Howden and Selby and will connect to/from services at Goole
- A normal train service will operate between Leeds and Selby.
- Trains between Doncaster and Hull (including freight to the docks) will be diverted via Goole
- On Sundays buses will replace all FTPE services between Leeds and Hull
Trains to / from Leeds and York direction to start terminate in Platforms 1, 2 or 3.
Trains to / from Doncaster direction to terminate at Platform 1 only.
Trains between Doncaster and Hull (including docks) diverted via Goole
Freight to / from Potter Group diverted via Goole
No trains will call at Selby station from the 2300 6 September through to 0525 Monday 8 September 2014 to allow commissioning of the signalling of testing of the structure.
This refurbishment was originally planned last summer, but was postponed following the spoil heap slip at Hatfield which resulted in severe capacity restrictions on the network. Circa 150 freight paths per day needed to be diverted around the blockage.
The scope of work has increased and will not require further intervention on the same parts of the bridge for:
- Paint = 25years
- Hydraulics = 20years
- Strengthened Spans 3 & 4 = 60 years
- Reconstructed spans 1, 2 & 5 = 120 years
Network Rail’s media centre has a Selby Swing Bridge gallery which will be regularly updated using photos provided from site.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office -London North Eastern & East Midlands route
01904 383180
mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
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