13.06.13
Stainforth services reinstated from July
Rail services to Hatfield and Stainforth will resume from July 8, Network Rail has announced. The news follows a programme of work to remove a spoil heap that slid onto the line and to stabilise the railway.
A passenger timetable will be fully reintroduced by July 29, once some drivers have re-learnt the route to comply with safety standards. This is necessary due to the long closure of the line.
Engineers will remain on site until the end of the year, and the spoil heap will continue to be monitored as a precaution.
Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “We are in the business of running trains yet this spoil slip has forced passengers onto buses for almost six months. I am grateful for their patience and understanding. I also thank freight customers who have been forced to take lengthy diversions to deliver essential goods upon which our economy relies.
“Because the rail line has been unavailable for so long we cannot run a full service from the first day the line is open. We are working closely with operators to reintroduce services as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will work with operators to give clear, timely guidance to passengers about which services are operating.”
A spokesperson for the train operators said: “It’s great to see work progressing well at Hatfield & Stainforth and I would like to echo the thanks to our customers for their understanding during this disruption. Working with our partners, we look forward to reintroducing services over a gradual period and then delivering the normal timetable from July 29.”
Network Rail has deferred a number of engineering works to accommodate the services which were diverted during this disruption. However the company has also used the opportunity of the line at Hatfield being blocked to bring forward some engineering works. These include track work at Stainforth, embankment works and planned project works.
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