Viaduct work to enable doubling number of train lines starts next week in Bristol: Stapleton Road-2

Friday 21 Jul 2017

Viaduct work to enable doubling number of train lines starts next week in Bristol

Region & Route:
Wales & Western: Western
| Wales & Western

To meet the expected growth in passenger numbers in the Bristol area, Network Rail is replacing the Victorian-era Stapleton Road railway viaduct with demolition set to begin next week. This work will enable Network Rail to double the number of rail lines – from two to four –as part of the Filton Bank Four-tracking project, increasing train services in the region.

Passengers and residents in the Easton area of Bristol are being reminded that Network Rail will begin to demolish the Stapleton Road railway viaduct on Monday 24 July.

The viaduct will be demolished in three large sections over six weeks, from 24 July until 1 September.

Work will take place during daytime hours, except for the last weekend of July when work will take place around the clock to remove the section over the road.

In order to remove this section safely, Stapleton Road will be closed to traffic from 9pm Friday 28 July until 6am Monday 31 July with signposted diversion routes in place.

The footpath and access ramp from Stapleton Road to platform 2 of Stapleton Road station will also be closed on this weekend. Platform 2 will only be accessible via the entrance on St Mark's Road (next to the Sugar Loaf pub) or via the footbridge from platform 1.

Kate Trevorrow from Network Rail said: “I’d like to thank residents in the Stapleton Road area for their patience as we undertake this work as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.

“This work is unavoidably noisy, but residents should be assured that our engineers will do all they can to keep this noise to a minimum. 

“Residents that may be affected by this have been notified of this work and we’ve also held public information events in the area which have been widely publicised.

“The replacement of the Stapleton Road viaduct is a crucial part of our project to double the number of lines between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood station. It will play its part in enabling more frequent and reliable services to operate in the area, delivering a better railway for Bristol and beyond.”

Network Rail’s 24 hour national helpline is available on 03457 11 41 41 for residents with any questions or concerns about this work.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

  • The replacement of the Victorian-era viaduct will enable an increase in train services to meet expected growth in passenger numbers and reduce disruption to rail services caused by maintenance. This is part of the Filton Bank four-tracking project, which is an expansion of the track between Dr Days Junction and Filton Abbey Wood station, increasing the number of lines from two to four.
  • Stapleton Road will be closed to traffic from 9pm Friday 28 July until 6am Monday 31 July with signposted diversion routes in place. This includes the footpath and ramp leading from Stapleton Road to platform 2 of Stapleton Road station.
  • From 9pm on Friday 28 July until 6am on Monday 31 July, platform 2 at Stapleton Road station will only be accessible via the entrance on St Mark's Road (next to the Sugar Loaf pub) or via the footbridge from platform 1.
  • Passengers approaching from Stapleton Road will need to allow a little extra time, and those who have difficulty with walking are asked to contact GWR's Assisted Travel Team ahead of their journey, on 0800 197 1329.

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 -Western route
07730 354394
MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

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