03.03.17
NR delivers rails for Far North Line renewals for first time in Scotland by sea
Over 1,000 new rails have been delivered to Scotland for the first time by sea to Scrabster Harbour to be used to renew 6.5 miles of track on the Far North Line’s Thurso branch that stretches from Thurso Station to Georgemas Junction.
The 1,100 60-ft rails were unloaded throughout this week from the RMS Laar and is a fresh approach for Network Rail as materials are usually delivered by land using road or rail transport.
The shipment was due to be made on Sunday, however this date was pushed back due to RMS Laar leaving the Dutch port a day late on Friday. The delay is not thought to have any effect on works beginning on the Far North Line.
Delivering the materials by sea is estimated to have saved NR 110 road freight journeys and reduced carbon emission waste down by approximately 200 tonnes.
The work renewing the track using the new rails will begin this month and NR hopes it will improve reliability of services for customers on the line.
Speaking about the delivery, Alex Sharkey, NR area director for Scotland East, said: “We are committed to investing in the Far North Line and between 2014 and 2019 we will spend over £30m in the area.
“We have already delivered a renewal of the signalling systems on the route and have plans in place to renew track, raise line speeds over level crossings and improve earthworks and structures.
He added: “As an industry we are also determined to reduce the environmental impact of our activities. This is a wonderful example of how we can do that – taking traffic off the roads and substantially reducing the carbon foot-print of the project.”
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