05.04.13
Loughor Viaduct replacement complete
The £48m South Wales rail upgrade is almost complete, Network Rail has announced. The work has seen Loughor Viaduct replaced and a 5.25 mile stretch of line through Gowerton is being redoubled.
A 16-day closure between Swansea and Llanelli has seen a new bridge completed, a new platform and footbridge, and an upgrade of Duffryn level crossing. The redoubling work, carried out by a Colas Rail/ Morgan Sindall joint venture, is due for completion on April 8.
The work has been jointly funded by Network Rail and the Welsh Government, in partnership with the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (SWWITCH).
The Loughor Viaduct replacement was carried out by Carillion.
Mark Langman, route managing director, Wales, said: “The difficult and exciting task of replacing the Loughor Viaduct is now complete and progress with the redoubling of the five-mile stretch of line is going to plan. This new viaduct and redoubling of the railway through Gowerton will remove the current bottleneck created by the stretch of single line and provide capacity to run more trains in the future.
“This project joins a number of other rail improvement projects in South and West Wales that will help deliver better journeys and boost economic growth in the area. The new viaduct at Loughor and the redoubling, as well as the new station platform and footbridge at Gowerton are part of a package of station and infrastructure improvements to make rail travel more comfortable and attractive to the public.
“As well as making it easier to travel to and from West Wales, they will help to boost local employment opportunities. I would like to thank people for their patience while we have worked to improve the viaduct and lay the second track.”
(Below: How it used to look)
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