Media centre

Thursday 27 May 2004

SPRING BANK HOLIDAY ENGINEERING WORK - THE REBUILDING OF THE RAILWAY GOES ON -

Region & Route:

National

The main engineering works to take place over the spring bank holiday period were today announced by Network Rail.   The work has been specifically programmed to ensure that peak commuter travel periods remain unaffected when, on average, twice as many people use the trains even compared to peak holiday travel time.  Where it has been necessary to carry out work over the entire holiday period, this has been planned well in advance to give train operating companies adequate time to plan alternative travel arrangements for passengers.   Network Rail Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: “This bank holiday will be a busy time for Network Rail, its staff and contractors, as our job of rebuilding the railway continues.   “Tens of thousands of dedicated railway staff will be hard at work over the long weekend,  undertaking some massive engineering tasks that will help deliver a better performing railway.”    George Muir, Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies, added:  “Bank holiday periods are busy times for train operators and also a time when major engineering works are best carried out to take advantage of the extended weekend when less people use the train service.  These essential improvements will increase performance and help trains run more smoothly and on time.”   - more - Spring - 2 Details of the largest pieces of engineering over the spring bank holiday weekend (Saturday 29 to Monday 31 May) are detailed below.  Full alternative travel arrangements can be obtained by calling National Rail Enquiries (08457 48 49 50) or logging on to www.nationalrail.co.uk.             London: Track renewals work on the North London line will require the line to close between Gunnersbury and Camden town on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Alternative travel arrangements will be in place – www.silverlink-trains.com     West Coast Main Line: The most extensive operation yet in the programme to modernise the southern end of the West Coast Main line will close the entire route between Watford Junction and Coventry/Stafford for nine days from 29 May until 6 June inclusive.   This massive programme of work involves extensive track renewals, overhead line work, major points replacement, commissioning of new signalling equipment, level crossing replacement, station work and commissioning a new flyover and platform.   This work will have a severe affect on passenger services operated by Silverlink and Virgin Trains where, throughout this period, coaches will replace trains for all or part of journeys except those between Euston and Watford Junction where a train service will continue to run.   Alternative direct rail services will be provided by Chiltern Railways to / from Birmingham and the West Midlands via London Marylebone.  By Midland Mainline to / from Manchester and the North West via London St Pancras, and by GNER to / from Scotland via London King’s Cross.   Passengers for the Motor Show at the National Exhibition Centre from Saturday 29 May until Sunday 6 June will be able to reach Birmingham International by direct train services via Chiltern Railways from Marylebone throughout the period.   East Anglia: The branch line off the East Coast Main line to Cambridge operated by West Anglia Great North (WAGN) trains will be closed for its final stretch, Royston to Cambridge. Buses will replace trains for the last 10 miles of the 60 mile journey calling at intermediate stations. Liverpool Street will offer the best direct services to Cambridge over this period.   Midlands: The line between Leicester and Stamford will be closed from 29 May until 6 June for major track renewals and structures work. Buses will replace trains between these points calling at Melton Mowbray and Oakham.