Media centre

Wednesday 23 May 2007

UPGRADE FOR BEDFORD TO BLETCHLEY ROUTE

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

| Southern

Passengers using the railway line between Bedford and Bletchley are set to benefit from a major investment , which will deliver a more reliable train service on the route. Work will involve replacing and upgrading track, sleepers and ballast on the line between Bletchley and Bedford, and will take place from 6am Monday 28 May to 6am Saturday 2 June. Throughout this period the line will be closed to rail services. Train operator Silverlink Trains will provide a comprehensive bus replacement service linking all the stations along the line. As part of the work, some two-and-a-half miles of track will be replaced and upgraded in the Lidlington area. This will result in the closure of the Marston Road level crossings to all road vehicles from 6am, Saturday 28 May until the works finish. Lidlington Station Road level crossing in the village will close at 6pm on 28 May until 6 on 2 June. However, a foot crossing will remain available near the crossings and will be clearly signposted. Diversions to the nearest level crossings at Ridgemount and Stewartby will be clearly signposted. Network Rail’s route director, Peter Strachan said: “This major upgrade will mean a more reliable train service for passengers travelling between Bedford and Bletchley. "We appreciate that disruption is never welcome, but these short-term improvements works will mean benefits for rail passengers for many years to come.”