Media centre

Wednesday 24 Sep 2003

WEEKEND ENGINEERING WORK

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail will be carrying out an extensive programme of engineering work over forthcoming weekends as part of the continued drive to deliver a more reliable rail network.  Large scale maintenance and renewal work will be undertaken at sites across the country, as engineers work around the clock to complete these important projects.             The work has been specifically programmed to ensure that peak commuter travel periods remain unaffected when, on average, twice as many people use the trains even compared to peak holiday travel time.  Where it has been necessary to carry out work over the weekend Network Rail strives to give train operating companies adequate time to plan alternative travel arrangements for passengers. A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail is carrying out a huge amount of work over the weekends.  Thousands of on-track staff will be working hard over to upgrade and maintain the railway and bring real and tangible improvements to the rail network. “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.”