Media centre

Tuesday 30 May 2006

WIRRAL LOOP LINE RE-OPENS ON TIME

Region & Route:

Passengers using the Wirral line between Lime Street and Liverpool Central stations will benefit from smoother and quieter journeys following a £4.3 million upgrade project by Network Rail.  The scheme to remove and replace 1,400 metres of rail was completed on time and on budget this morning and the line re-opened as scheduled. Andrew Skidmore, Area General Manager (Liverpool) said: “This is just one of several multi-million pound schemes Network Rail is carrying out on the Merseyrail network during 2006.  “We have always demonstrated total commitment to this network and Network Rail plans to invest £72 million in operating, maintaining and renewing the Merseyrail network over the next three years, which will include a £24 million investment in track renewals.” The underground environment and nature of the work made this scheme particularly challenging. The loop line tunnel is one of the few places on the rail network which uses slab track, where concrete is laid and then rail is directly secured to it. The old concrete had to be broken up and removed from the tunnel before the new concrete and rail could be laid. The underground environment also made this scheme challenging due to limited ventilation, access and storage space within the tunnel. During the work:

• 700 metres of old concrete base was removed

• 500 tonnes of new concrete was poured
• 1,400 metres of new rail was laid
• 8,000 bolts was used to secure the track
• 2,000 base plates have been secured

Commenting on the work, Louise Ellman MP (Liverpool Riverside) said: “I would like to congratulate Network Rail and their project team in particular, for doing a great job in what must have been difficult conditions.  Although this work has disrupted Liverpool over the past six weeks, it is welcome investment in Merseyside and I look forward to improved, more reliable services in the future.”