Network Rail
West Coast Main Line to receive major improvement work.
Work on the West Coast Main Line will be carried out this summer to increase the speed that trains can travel. Four major rail junctions will also be replaced and enhanced. The work will improve the reliability of the infrastructure and the punctuality of train services on Britain’s busiest mixed-use railway line.
The £18m improvement scheme will be completed over nine days from Saturday 13 July to Sunday 21 July when four life-expired junctions will be replaced and three miles of track re-laid.
During the project, over an 18 mile stretch of line near Wigan, trains will be unable to use the Warrington to Preston section of the route. Train operators will be making alternative arrangements to help passengers complete their journeys during the line closure.
Dyan Crowther, route managing director, said: “This scheme represents significant investment in the railway in this area to increase line speeds and make the railway more reliable and punctual for our customers.
“There is never a good time to carry out major work on such a busy route and after careful discussion with the train operators and industry partners, it became apparent that undertaking this vital investment in nine consecutive days in July would, overall, cause less disruption.
“Train services are quieter at this time and fewer people are expected to experience changes to their travel plans compared to the work being staggered over the next two years, impacting on dozens of weekends and Bank Holidays.”
Usually, Network Rail would have carried out work of this kind over a number of Bank Holiday weekends requiring train services to be replaced repeatedly by alternative transport. By carrying out the work in a nine-day continuous spell this summer, engineers expect to be able to complete the replacement of the four junctions around 16 months earlier and to avoid disrupting rail travel plans for many weekends and nine bank holidays over the next two years.
- 3 miles of track to renew
- 4 main line junctions upgraded
- 18 miles of West Coast Main Line occupied by engineers
- 6,600 new railway sleepers to be laid
- 21,500 tonnes of ballast
- Materials delivered by 61 trains in 865 wagons
Network Rail is working with the train operators to arrange a replacement rail and road travel service and our joint aim is to enable passengers to travel by train as far as possible. The temporary line closure will affect passengers using services run by Virgin Trains, Northern and First TransPennine Express. The train operators are developing timetables for alternative services, which will be publicised and available through rail journey planning and train company websites.
Plans are being made for leaflets to be handed out at stations in advance of the work and a number of road shows will be held at stations to explain the project and to answer any questions.
When completed the work will allow train services to run at up to 75 mph over the four upgraded junctions – Golborne Junction, Bamfurlong, Wigan Springs Branch, Balshaw Lane Junction. The reliability of the rail infrastructure will have been improved and it will be easier to maintain.
During the project, over an 18 mile stretch of line near Wigan, trains will be unable to use the Warrington to Preston section of the route. Train operators will be making alternative arrangements to help passengers complete their journeys during the line closure.
Dyan Crowther, route managing director, said: “This scheme represents significant investment in the railway in this area to increase line speeds and make the railway more reliable and punctual for our customers.
“There is never a good time to carry out major work on such a busy route and after careful discussion with the train operators and industry partners, it became apparent that undertaking this vital investment in nine consecutive days in July would, overall, cause less disruption.
“Train services are quieter at this time and fewer people are expected to experience changes to their travel plans compared to the work being staggered over the next two years, impacting on dozens of weekends and Bank Holidays.”
Usually, Network Rail would have carried out work of this kind over a number of Bank Holiday weekends requiring train services to be replaced repeatedly by alternative transport. By carrying out the work in a nine-day continuous spell this summer, engineers expect to be able to complete the replacement of the four junctions around 16 months earlier and to avoid disrupting rail travel plans for many weekends and nine bank holidays over the next two years.
Notes:
The project by numbers:- 3 miles of track to renew
- 4 main line junctions upgraded
- 18 miles of West Coast Main Line occupied by engineers
- 6,600 new railway sleepers to be laid
- 21,500 tonnes of ballast
- Materials delivered by 61 trains in 865 wagons
Network Rail is working with the train operators to arrange a replacement rail and road travel service and our joint aim is to enable passengers to travel by train as far as possible. The temporary line closure will affect passengers using services run by Virgin Trains, Northern and First TransPennine Express. The train operators are developing timetables for alternative services, which will be publicised and available through rail journey planning and train company websites.
Plans are being made for leaflets to be handed out at stations in advance of the work and a number of road shows will be held at stations to explain the project and to answer any questions.
When completed the work will allow train services to run at up to 75 mph over the four upgraded junctions – Golborne Junction, Bamfurlong, Wigan Springs Branch, Balshaw Lane Junction. The reliability of the rail infrastructure will have been improved and it will be easier to maintain.
UK Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)
Latest data shows slight increase in use of capacity on the rail network.
25 April 2013
New statistics published today on the regulator's data portal shows that use of capacity on key parts of Britain’s rail network has increased over the past year.
Updated data highlights that the total number of timetabled train kilometres increased by 0.8% in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12. The largest increases were for:
- London Overground timetabled train kilometres increased by 8.8%, due to the opening of the new Surrey Quays-Clapham line in December 2012.
- Chiltern Rail timetabled train kilometres increased by 4.1%, due to the introduction of the Chiltern Mainline service in September 2011.
The NRT Data Portal gives everyone access to a wide range of rail statistics throughout the year. The NRT Data Portal holds information in one place and is easy to navigate. New data is uploaded onto the Portal each month.
International Railway Journal
SIEMENS handed over the 100th MX3000 metro train to Oslo Metro operator Collective Transport Production (KTP) on April 24, 10 years after the contract was signed for the initial batch of three-car trains.
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) continued to feel the impact of the economic downturn in the first quarter of this year as revenues remained almost static at €8.2bn, a 0.9% year-on-year increase.
RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) says design work could begin by the end of this year on the 790km Moscow – Kazan section of the proposed 1600km Moscow – Yekaterinburg high-speed line.
RAILHOLDING, the 100% owner of Austrian open-access passenger operator Westbahn has increased its capital stock by €20 million following an injection of funds
www.progressiverailroading.com US News
www.railway-technology.com Updates.........
Knorr-Bremse opens rail vehicle equipment manufacturing plant in Brazil Germany-based braking system manufacturer Knorr-Bremse has opened a new €40m development and manufacturing plant in Itupeva, São Paulo, Brazil.
Thales to install passenger information solution on India's Jaipur Metro
Thales has received a contract from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to deliver an advanced passenger information system for the new Jaipur Metro in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Tutor Perini lowest bidder for San Francisco Central Subway Project
Tutor Perini is expected to secure a contract for the San Francisco Central Subway Project in the US after being identified as the lowest bidder.
Skanska wins Vestfold line contract in Norway
Skanska Norway, a division of Swedish construction firm Skanska, has secured a NOK1.34bn ($226m) contract from Norwegian national rail administration Jernbaneverket (JVB) to build a 9km railway line between Farriseidet, Larvik and Telemark in Norway.
Shedmaster Railway News
CAF financial results for first quarter of 2013;
KfW IPEX-Bank announced its second rolling stock funding deal with train operator Netinera on April 25.
Wagon leasing and rail transport group VTG and logistics business Kuehne + Nagel announced the signing of a letter of intent to merge their rail logistics activities on April 25.
Read more on these items at www.railwaygazette.com.
World Heritage & Railway News
From nymr.co.uk:
40th Anniversary
1st May 2013
A day of celebrating the NYMR’s illustrious 40 years since the official Royal Opening by the Duchess of Kent in 1973.Join our Anniversary Special train from Whitby (14.00) to Pickering and return on Wednesday 01 May – 40 years since the official opening by the Duchess of Kent by a Royal Train on 01 May 1973. The special train will be hauled by K1 No 62005, assisted by one of the engines that worked the Royal Train – newly over-hauled Lambton Tank No 29.
Tickets are now on sale at £40 per person and you will be issued a Souvenir ticket signed by one of the original Royal Train drivers – Chris Cubitt. A glass of sparkling wine and a piece of celebratory cake will round off this momentous journey.
Railway Engineering News
NORWAY: The government has published its national transport strategy for 2014-23, setting out proposals to spend a total of NKr168bn on rail, up 49% from the current 10-year plan.
SWEDEN: Saying that the high number shows the success of deregulation of the rail market, infrastructure manager Trafikverket has announced that 46 applications have been made for train paths on the rail network in 2014. Of these, 27 are for passenger operators and 13 for freight, with the remainder being for maintenance and other works.
Both items above via www.railwaygazette.com.
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