Media centre

Monday 7 Mar 2016

Stunning time-lapse footage captures demolition and reconstruction of Cardiff Road bridge

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

New video footage has been released capturing a crucial element of the Network Rail project to electrify the South Wales Mainline which will provide faster, greener and more reliable journeys for passengers.

The stunning time-lapse film shows the part demolition and reconstruction of Cardiff Road bridge in Newport and features the largest telescopic crane in the UK which was used during the works.

The video was filmed from December 2015 until February this year, as engineers raise the height of the bridge creating the necessary room for the overhead wires required to power the new electric trains. The essential electrification work is a major part of Network Rail’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers.

Andrew Griffiths, programme manager for Network Rail Wales said: “The film demonstrates the scale of the project and the level of work involved.

“We are delighted that we have been able to keep the road open to traffic and pedestrians, minimising disruption. We would like to thank the passengers and the local community for their patience while this essential upgrade work was completed."

“Electrification will provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and improve links from South Wales to major towns and cities, including London.’’

Reconstruction of the bridge continues and work on the approach roads leading to the new bridge structure is ongoing. The single lane traffic management system will remain in place for the duration of the scheme which is due to be completed by late spring.

When the Cardiff Road project is complete work will begin to reconstruct and upgrade the nearby Maesglas Road bridge and Bridge Street Road bridge in the city centre. 

A public information event will be held at Maesglas sports and social club on Wednesday, 7 March from 3pm until 7pm. No appointments are necessary and members of the Network Rail team will be on hand to answer any questions.

 

Notes to editors:

Facts and figures about the UK’s largest telescopic crane:

• It uses 204 tonnes of counterweight, which has to be transported on 4 heavy vehicles
• It can lift a medium sized elephant (6.7te) from one end of a football pitch to the other or 10.0te to a height of over 140m
• It has 18 wheels and is 22m long
• When the heaviest lift on site was completed the overall weight of the crane and load was over 400 tonnes.

 

• The Railway Upgrade Plan is Network Rail’s £40bn spending plan for Britain’s railways for the five year period up to 31 March 2019. The plan is designed to provide more capacity, relieve crowding and respond to tremendous growth the railways have seen – a doubling of passengers in the past twenty years. The plan will deliver a bigger, better railway with more trains, longer trains, faster trains with more infrastructure, more reliable infrastructure and better facilities for passengers, especially at stations.