Media centre

Wednesday 17 Dec 2003

WHITEMOOR UPDATE: FIRST SECTION OF TRACK IS OPEN

Region & Route:

| Southern

A brand-new siding at Whitemoor was used for the first time today when a ballast train entered the site. The first track on the sidings, which links to the east-bound Peterborough to March line, has taken 12 days to construct.  The whole siding, which is used for loading and unloading, will consist of 2,400 yards of track, 3,500 sleepers, 4,000 tonnes of ballast and will bring engineering trains into the centre of the site.  Trains will enter the site at 10 miles an hour. The construction of the new Whitemoor depot is scheduled to take just five months and Network Rail is committed to bringing as much construction material to site, by train, as possible.  We have already used the old Wisbech branch line for some materials, but the new track will now be used as it is brings trains into a more appropriate part of the site and is sited away from houses. The first train to enter the site was carrying ballast from Peterborough.  It was a momentous occasion as Peter Heubeck, Project Director, explains: “The construction of the Whitemoor depot is essential for the maintenance and renewal of East Anglia’s railway.  So many people have worked behind the scenes on the planning application and with one track constructed and the first train into the site, we can really see our vision coming together.” - more - Rail head – 2 The depot is due to open in April 2004 after 17 kms of track and 68 sets of points have been laid and 30,000 tonnes of ballast brought to site.