We completed over 400 projects this bank holiday weekend, from essential maintenance to upgrades to your journeys.
The £84.3m investment will improve train performance and reliability for you and freight.
Here’s just some of what we got up to …
East Coast Digital
We tested brand-new digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line. That’s the major line that runs North out of London King’s Cross all the way to Edinburgh.
We’re working to replace traditional signalling with innovative digitally signalling. In this case it means replacing a system that includes equipment beside the tracks with in-cab signalling – equipment inside the train.
The first long distance train tested the tech between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin at high speed.
It’s part of the East Coast Digital Programme, which will introduce digital signalling on this route from late next year.
The railway needed to close so we could test the tech under controlled conditions. Thank you for bearing with us while this work affected long distance trains in and out of London King’s Cross.
Driver’s eye view of in-cab digital signalling equipment.
Severn Tunnel
Follow-up work took place inside the Severn Tunnel, which links South West England with South Wales. This will keep your trains running smoothly.
We’ve already replaced all the track in the tunnel and at the weekend compacted the stones on the ground to stabilise the track. Teams also carried out essential maintenance to the overhead conductor rail that powers electric trains.
Nick Millington, route director for our Wales and Borders route, said this month: “We recognise there is never a good time to close the Severn Tunnel, but we have planned this essential follow-up work to minimise disruption as much as possible.
“We would like to thank passengers for their patience – both during the initial 16-day closure of the tunnel and again over the Bank Holiday weekend – and urge them to check their journeys before they travel.”
Read more about this work – and why working inside the Severn Tunnel is so challenging.
Work taking place at the Severn Tunnel.
Bristol
Train services along the Severn Beach and Filton lines restarted on Saturday after seven days of work.
Teams worked around the clock on essential track renewals and a bridge replacement to keep your services moving reliably along this busy commuter route.
It took almost 900m of new track and about 800 tonnes of stone.
Work started with the replacement of a railway bridge over marshland at Chittening, between Avonmouth and Severn Beach, on Saturday 17 August.
Track and drainage replacements through Lawrence Hill station started on Sunday 18 August. Meanwhile, work started in Montpelier on 19 August, with rails replaced in the tunnel, and track replaced under Ashley Hill towards Narroways Junction.
It continued until the early hours of Saturday morning, with the railway reopened for regular passenger and freight services from just after 5am.
Renewed track in the Severn Beach and Filton lines area.
Crystal Palace junction
We made great progress on the major upgrade at the busy Crystal Palace junction.
We worked to replace five sets of switches and crossings – the moveable rails that allow trains to change lines. Plus, we replaced 1,500 metres of track to help reduce train delays
Lucy McAuliffe, route director for our Sussex route, said last week: “In addition to the replacement of the switches and crossings, we will install 730 metres of new conductor rail and 4,000 metres of new signalling and telecom cables.
“The current upgrade is just one part of our continuing investment in improving passenger journeys. This autumn in the same area, we are also planning a significant upgrade in the signalling to modernise 1980s equipment, which will result in fewer faults and fewer delays.”
Read more:
August bank holiday works in numbers
