26.01.18
Campaign launched for £200m Midland Main Line resignalling project
Derby station’s improvement project has taken a major step forward with the launch of a joint venture campaign this week.
The £200m programme to improve Midland Main Line signalling is run by a partnership between Network Rail and East Midlands Trains, supported by CrossCountry.
It involves the replacement of 17km of track, which will be re-laid in a different configuration, as well as 55 new straight post signals, nine new signal gantries and 79 sets of points.
While the station was modernised in 2013, the surrounding network has needed upgrades for a number of years, having not been improved since its installation nearly 50 years ago.
Today, the partnership behind the plans has launched its official campaign to inform local businesses, passengers, and the wider community of the upcoming changes.
Between 27 July and 7 October works are expected to affect travel on the Crewe, London and Matlock lines, on certain CrossCountry services, as well as the route between Derby and Nottingham.
Commenting on the launch of today’s campaign, new rail minister Jo Johnson said the programme would “improve reliability and punctuality, and ensure the line is fit for future growth.”
Rob McIntosh, route managing director at Network Rail, added: “This work will improve journeys in Derby and across the wider region by providing passengers with a more modern, reliable and resilient railway.
“This investment is vital and we have worked extremely closely with train operators, stakeholders and local businesses to keep disruption to a minimum whilst the upgrade takes place. Today marks the launch of a new website which will give passengers detailed information on how their journey is affected and allow them to plan ahead.”
As part of the scheme, Network Rail will have to lay around 150,000 tonnes of ballast, involving the use of 240 engineering trains to provide and remove materials.
CrossCountry’s managing director, Andy Cooper, who wrote for the latest edition of RTM, apologised for the disruption the work would cause to passengers.
He said: “We fully understand the disruption customers can experience when engineering work takes place, so we have worked closely with East Midlands Trains and Network Rail to ensure they have access to all the information possible about how the upgrades at Derby this summer could affect their journeys.
“However, as well as being a source of useful travel advice, the dedicated customer website provides extensive information about why these works are taking place and the benefits customers will see when this investment in the region’s railways is complete.”
Top image: Simon Galloway EMPICS Sport
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