Friday 27 Aug 2010
VITAL REVAMP FOR ARNSIDE VIADUCT
- Region & Route:
Arnside Viaduct is going to be revamped for the 21st century next spring. Network Rail has appointed May Gurney as principal contractor to carry out essential work to replace the deck of Arnside viaduct.
Originally constructed in 1856, Arnside viaduct is a 51 span structure carrying the Carnforth and Whitehaven line over the estuary of the River Kent.
The structure has suffered deterioration over the years, resulting in the bridge’s load capacity being reduced and a speed restriction being enforced.
Network Rail will be working with May Gurney to replace the entire deck of the viaduct to return the structure to it’s former condition, reinstate full line speed, meaning less major maintenance in future, improving journey times for both passengers and freight users.
Stuart Middleton, Network Rail area general manager said: “Britain relies on rail so investment in the future of this line is vital. The work at Arnside is similar to the deck replacement scheme carried out on Leven viaduct a few years ago, a project that delivered great results.
“The upgrade will not only see major structural improvements to the viaduct but also bring more benefits to passengers in the way of a smoother, quieter and faster ride.”
John Wilkinson, Managing Director of May Gurney Rail Services said: “May Gurney specialise in difficult rail bridges. This 500m long structure will provide us with a great challenge and we look forward to working with the local community and Network Rail in improving this asset.”
Owing to the large scale and nature of the deck replacement works a full closure of the line will be necessary, with the scheme being completed in one 16-week period between March and July 2011.
Network Rail will be liaising with train operating companies to plan punctual and reliable alternative travel arrangements. More details on how the work will affect passengers and neighbours of the viaduct and surrounding area will follow in the coming months.
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 - North West & Central Region
0330 854 0100
NWCmediarelations@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.
Follow us on Twitter: @networkrail
Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk