Media centre

Thursday 4 Dec 2003

THE REBUILDING OF THE RAILWAY GOES ON - CHRISTMAS ENGINEERING WORK

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail will be taking advantage of the traditionally quiet, in terms of passenger numbers, Christmas and New Year break to carry out an extensive programme of engineering work. Carefully planned alternative travel arrangements during the work will help to keep disruption to an absolute minimum, with passengers informed of the changes well in advance. Network Rail Regional Director, Robin Gisby said: “Whilst most of us will be enjoying the festive season and our Christmas lunches, thousands of railway staff will be working hard to improve the railway. Passengers and freight users will benefit from this large programme of engineering work as it will lead to a safer and more reliable railway.” Apart from the airport services (Gatwick Express) and a handful of other services, the railway closes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  Network Rail will take advantage of this two-day closure to work intensively on the railway.              Engineering work which WILL affect passenger services: Sussex Coast main lines (Brighton) closed (at Clapham Junction), Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 December (inc): ·        Major bridge replacement scheme at Clapham Junction affecting Sussex routes. Gatwick Express services and some South Central services running on a diversionary route via Herne Hill, with other services replaced by buses. - More - Xmas - 2                            There are many other pieces of engineering work being undertaken over the Christmas holiday period but these are mainly targeted over Christmas Day and Boxing Day and thus will not cause train service disruption.             Engineering work which WILL NOT affect passenger services on the 25 and 26 December: ·        Cable work to improve communications systems between Wimbledon and Raynes Park stations ·        Resignalling work between Brockenhurst and Poole stations ·        Cable work to improve communications systems between Woking and Guildford stations ·        Installation of upgraded electrical equipment between Petersfield and Portsmouth Harbour. ·        Essential track maintenance on the line at Redhill Station ·        Essential track maintenance between Dartford and Gravesend stations on 26 December only ·        Cabling upgrade work at Ashford station Mr Gisby continued: “These windows of opportunity are essential to the continued maintenance and renewal needed on the nation’s infrastructure.  During these times, however, we will be doing our utmost to ensure disruption to passengers and those living beside the railway is kept to a minimum.”