Friday 28 Jun 2013
Work starts to deliver faster rail journeys on the Midland Main Line
- Region & Route:
Two bridges in Leicestershire are to be rebuilt by Network Rail as part of a £70m investment to speed up journey times on the Midland Main Line, which links London with Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Once complete, the new bridges will provide the extra headroom needed for trains to travel at higher speeds, when the forces involved mean trains tilt to one side as they pass through curved sections of track.
Network Rail would normally provide the additional clearance by lowering the track level under the bridges. However, rebuilding the bridges will help to accommodate future installation of overhead line equipment as part of the proposed electrification of the line between Bedford and Sheffield, providing better value for money and minimising disruption.
Justin Page, Network Rail acting route managing director, said: “This work will deliver quicker journeys for the ever-growing number of passengers on the Midland Main Line, helping to bring the region’s biggest economies closer together.
“We thank people in advance for their patience during the engineering works and will continue to work closely with Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council and other key groups as we continue our plans to build a better railway for the East Midlands. This is an exciting time for the Midland Main Line as we upgrade and electrify the route to transform our diesel railway into one of the most modern in Europe, providing more seats, even faster journeys and cleaner and quieter trains.”
The bridges will need to be closed for up to 15 weeks while they are replaced. Network Rail is working with Leicestershire County Council and Harborough District Council to minimise disruption and provide travel advice to those affected.
The two bridges affected are:
• Station Street / Church Road bridge, Kibworth – closed 9 September 2013 to 22 December 2013. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained for the vast majority of the time.
• The Square bridge, Newton Harcourt – closed 9 September 2013 to 13 December 2013.
A drop-in session for the local community will be held at Kibworth Village Hall on Tuesday 13 August 2013.
Notes to editors
1. Network Rail has notified residents and will be working with local authorities to raise awareness of diversionary routes. The local community drop-in session on Tuesday 13 August 2013 will be staffed by Network Rail and contractors to help answer questions or queries and we will contact residents with further information. Residents and businesses are encouraged to contact Network Rail’s 24 hour helpline on 08457 11 41 41 if they have any questions or tweet @NetworkRail
2. Network Rail is increasing the line speeds on the Midland Main Line as part of a commitment to speed up journeys and will cut up to 8 minutes between London and Sheffield. Line speed increases are being made between Leicester and Trent South Junction, on the line to Kettering, around the Toton area, and between Nottingham and Sheffield. Three bridges are also being rebuilt in Northamptonshire.
3. Network Rail plans to upgrade and electrify the Midland Main Line between Bedford and Sheffield, subject to approval from the Office of Rail Regulation in October 2013. This investment would see more seats, quicker journeys and cleaner and quieter trains. Current plans are to electrify to Corby by 2017, to Leicester, Derby and Nottingham in 2019 and to Sheffield in 2020.
4. The bridges are being rebuilt together with the line speed improvements to reduce taxpayer costs and help minimise disruption. The opportunity has been taken as Network Rail proposes to start electrification work on the line from 2014.
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 -London North Eastern & East Midlands route
01904 383180
mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
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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.
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