Media centre

Sunday 30 Nov 2003

£xxxSPEND TO IMPROVE THE xxx TO xxx LINE

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail has invested over £xxx improving the tracks on the xxx to xxxline.  As part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuilding the railway engineers worked around the clock to renew xxx yards of track and improve drainage between xxx and xxx stations over xxx weekends.                                     Continuously welded rail with concrete sleepers replaced life expired track, using a total of xxx tonnes of ballast, over xxx sleepers and xxx yards of rail.  Passengers can now expect a smoother, quieter and more reliable journey. All work carried out was subject to an environmental and ecological survey to ensure that protected species were not disturbed during the work.  The work was specifically programmed to take place at the weekends to ensure that peak commuter travel periods remained unaffected. Network Rail and South West Trains worked together, ensuring passengers and residents were notified well in advance.             Network Rail’s Southern Regional Director, Robin Gisby said: “This work forms part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuilding Britain’s railway. We appreciate that passengers using the line expect an improved service and this investment is a step to delivering the service they rightly deserve.”