Rail services resumed throughout the north east this morning after engineers rebuilt embankments damaged in Thursday’s storms.
Areas of the track beds were torn away by floods at Haltwhistle on the Newcastle to Carlisle route and Scremerston on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Newcastle and Berwick. Both sites required significant rebuild – at Scremerston 400 tonnes of new material had to be replaced.
In order to carry out the work safely no trains ran between Haltwhistle and Carlisle over the weekend. The line reopened at 0600 this morning.
At Scremerston the first train ran over the renewed site at reduced speed at 08.30 on Sunday morning.
Warrick Dent, general manager for Network Rail, said: “I would like to thank passengers for their continued patience while we completed these significant works. Our engineers have worked around the clock to restore services as quickly as possible. The fact that we have a full service running this morning is a testament to them.”
200 MORE APPRENTICES GET TO WORK
Mac Andrade, Network Rail’s director of maintenance said: “Having a highly skilled and dedicated workforce will help us deliver a better maintained and performing railway, so welcoming yet another 200 apprentices into our depots is fantastic for us. Our experienced engineers and technicians will further their training on-the-job, teaching them all they need to know to become invaluable members of the Network Rail team.”
Kelsey Everton, 19 and from Smethwick in the West Midlands will be based at Sandwell and Dudley depot learning electrification and plant. She commented on the scheme: “I’d like to eventually teach on the apprenticeship scheme, it’s been a great experience. There has been a lot of hard work but have made some good friends and there has been some good banter. There are only six girls on the course this year but it’s been a good experience. My friends think it’s a little weird that I am doing this but I would urge them – and anyone else – to do it.”
Dan Tinsley from Rotherham in Yorkshire will be based at Doncaster depot learning electrification and plant. He previously worked in retail and construction part time. He said: “I will be working in a trade which is what I have always wanted. The quality of education has been high and the standard of tools we learn with is great. I am a driven person and now want to do my best. I won’t rush it though. I want to know the work inside out. I took a pay-cut to do the course but there are good career prospects ahead of me. I would definitely recommend the apprenticeship scheme.”
Network Rail succeeded in lifting the 300 tonne main span of this bridge into position early on Sunday morning, using a 1200-tonne crane for the purpose.
Despite the weight and delicacy of the operation, it took just an hour and a half to drop the span and bolt it into place.
Network Rail's route managing director Phil Verster said: "The Hitchin flyover will make a real difference to passengers who travel on the East Coast Main Line, as well as people travelling to Cambridge and beyond.
"Trains will run more reliably and punctually, and we will have cleared one of the major bottlenecks on the route.
"Lifting the main span into place is a milestone in the project and a sign that we are on track to deliver those benefits."
Today, trains travelling from London King’s Cross have to cross three other lines to switch between the East Coast Main Line and the line to Cambridge. This reduces capacity for other services and makes the railway less reliable when delays occur.
The new rail link will avoid these problems completely, cutting delays to train services by nearly 30,000 minutes every year and helping create the capacity to run more services when future timetables are developed.
The total cost of the project, from the very earliest stages on the drawing board to completion, is expected to be £47m. Passengers can expect to travel on the new stretch of line by early 2014.
DERAILMENT RECOVERY WORKS CONTINUE ON WEST HIGHLAND LINE
Areas of the track beds were torn away by floods at Haltwhistle on the Newcastle to Carlisle route and Scremerston on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Newcastle and Berwick. Both sites required significant rebuild – at Scremerston 400 tonnes of new material had to be replaced.
In order to carry out the work safely no trains ran between Haltwhistle and Carlisle over the weekend. The line reopened at 0600 this morning.
At Scremerston the first train ran over the renewed site at reduced speed at 08.30 on Sunday morning.
Warrick Dent, general manager for Network Rail, said: “I would like to thank passengers for their continued patience while we completed these significant works. Our engineers have worked around the clock to restore services as quickly as possible. The fact that we have a full service running this morning is a testament to them.”
200 MORE APPRENTICES GET TO WORK
Around 200 apprentices have started work at Network Rail depots across Britain after completing their first year’s training at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire.
The apprentices specialise in track, signalling, telecoms and electrification and plant. Over the next two years they will work under supervision gaining vital experience as they train to become maintenance technicians. They will return to HMS Sultan for further courses and training throughout this time.
Mac Andrade, Network Rail’s director of maintenance said: “Having a highly skilled and dedicated workforce will help us deliver a better maintained and performing railway, so welcoming yet another 200 apprentices into our depots is fantastic for us. Our experienced engineers and technicians will further their training on-the-job, teaching them all they need to know to become invaluable members of the Network Rail team.”
Kelsey Everton, 19 and from Smethwick in the West Midlands will be based at Sandwell and Dudley depot learning electrification and plant. She commented on the scheme: “I’d like to eventually teach on the apprenticeship scheme, it’s been a great experience. There has been a lot of hard work but have made some good friends and there has been some good banter. There are only six girls on the course this year but it’s been a good experience. My friends think it’s a little weird that I am doing this but I would urge them – and anyone else – to do it.”
Dan Tinsley from Rotherham in Yorkshire will be based at Doncaster depot learning electrification and plant. He previously worked in retail and construction part time. He said: “I will be working in a trade which is what I have always wanted. The quality of education has been high and the standard of tools we learn with is great. I am a driven person and now want to do my best. I won’t rush it though. I want to know the work inside out. I took a pay-cut to do the course but there are good career prospects ahead of me. I would definitely recommend the apprenticeship scheme.”
HITCHIN FLYOVER FLOWN IN
The most significant stage in a major project to improve services on one of Britain’s major rail routes took place over the weekend, as the main span of a new rail overbridge was lifted into place.
The Hitchin flyover will see trains for the line to Cambridge and Ely leave the East Coast Main Line on a new stretch of railway, avoiding the current flat junction just north of the town’s station. They will then cross the existing main line on a bridge and rejoin the old Cambridge route almost a mile to the east of the town.Network Rail succeeded in lifting the 300 tonne main span of this bridge into position early on Sunday morning, using a 1200-tonne crane for the purpose.
Despite the weight and delicacy of the operation, it took just an hour and a half to drop the span and bolt it into place.
Network Rail's route managing director Phil Verster said: "The Hitchin flyover will make a real difference to passengers who travel on the East Coast Main Line, as well as people travelling to Cambridge and beyond.
"Trains will run more reliably and punctually, and we will have cleared one of the major bottlenecks on the route.
"Lifting the main span into place is a milestone in the project and a sign that we are on track to deliver those benefits."
Today, trains travelling from London King’s Cross have to cross three other lines to switch between the East Coast Main Line and the line to Cambridge. This reduces capacity for other services and makes the railway less reliable when delays occur.
The new rail link will avoid these problems completely, cutting delays to train services by nearly 30,000 minutes every year and helping create the capacity to run more services when future timetables are developed.
The total cost of the project, from the very earliest stages on the drawing board to completion, is expected to be £47m. Passengers can expect to travel on the new stretch of line by early 2014.
DERAILMENT RECOVERY WORKS CONTINUE ON WEST HIGHLAND LINE
The West Highland line will remain closed between Crianlarich and Fort William for the rest of this week as engineers work to recover a derailed freight service.
Due to the remote location of the train, which was derailed near Tulloch last Thursday evening following a landslip, the operation to remove the train, stabilise the slope above and repair damage to the track is expected to take until July 11 to complete.
The incident site is inaccessible by road and located on a steep hillside, making the recovery of the freight engine and several derailed wagons one of the most challenging Network Rail’s engineers have faced.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “Our engineers are working hard to recover the line and restore rail services and quickly as possible.”
ScotRail is providing a replacement bus service between Glasgow Queen Street and Fort William to minimise disruption for passengers.
The incident site is inaccessible by road and located on a steep hillside, making the recovery of the freight engine and several derailed wagons one of the most challenging Network Rail’s engineers have faced.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “Our engineers are working hard to recover the line and restore rail services and quickly as possible.”
ScotRail is providing a replacement bus service between Glasgow Queen Street and Fort William to minimise disruption for passengers.
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