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Monday 22 Feb 2016

Winterbourne residents reminded of Dragon Road bridge closure for railway electrification work

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Essential work to prepare Dragon Road/Down Road bridge for the arrival of a new fleet of electric trains will begin next week (Monday 29 February).

Network Rail’s orange army will be raising the sides of the bridge and installing anti-climb coping stones as part of the company’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers.

The improvements will provide a barrier between people who use the bridge and the new overhead electricity lines that are required to power the new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains to run underneath.

As the land on one side of the bridge is a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, the team will not be able to work from scaffolding in this area and so a temporary road closure is required to carry out the upgrade from Monday, 29 February until the end of April 2016. Throughout this time, pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge.

Andy Haynes, Network Rail’s project director for the west of England, said: “I’d like to thank the local community in advance for their patience and understanding while we carry out this improvement work. 

“The work at Dragon Road bridge is an essential part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and will pave the way for electrification and the benefits this will bring for residents. These benefits include faster trains with more seats and more legroom, and less noise and cleaner air for those living close to the railway.”

The diversion route for the temporary closure has been updated as follows: Dragon Road, B4058 High Street, B4058 Bristol Road, B4059 Yate Road, B4059 Stover Road, A432 Badminton Road, Down Road.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan

The Railway Upgrade Plan is Network Rail’s £40bn spending plan for Britain’s railways for the five year period up to 31 March 2019. The plan is designed to provide more capacity, relieve crowding and respond to tremendous growth the railways have seen – a doubling of passengers in the past twenty years. The plan will deliver a bigger, better railway with more trains, longer trains, faster trains with more infrastructure, more reliable infrastructure and better facilities for passengers, especially at stations.

About the Great Western Electrification Programme

Electrification will transform the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff to deliver a faster, greener, quieter and more reliable railway for passengers, with extra capacity. Electrifying this part of the Great Western route will enhance 235 miles of one of Britain’s busiest and oldest railways, better connecting major towns and cities across southern England and South Wales. This investment, as well as the introduction of a fleet of new trains, will improve journey times and make services more comfortable, smoother, cleaner and quieter for passengers and people living near the railway.

Members of the public with any questions about the work can call Network Rail’s 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.