Three bridges and track between Kettering and Wigston will see adaptation works performed to clear the way for an electric railway, with works getting underway this March.
The bridges, in Braybrooke in Northamptonshire, Great Glen and Newton Harcourt in Leicestershire, will be demolished to be reconstructed, or have the beneath track lowered to make way for the requisite overhead wire installation that will accommodate electrified travel.
These electrification works come as part of the Midland Main Line upgrade, a multi-million-pound programme that will support the decarbonisation ambitions of the UK Government, contributing towards overall carbon net zero, whilst offering enhanced reliability for passenger journeys.
The work involves:
- Demolishing a farm access low bridge in Braybrooke, where a higher replacement bridge has already been installed around 20 metres down the line;
- Demolishing a bridge on Station Road in Great Glen and reconstructing it;
- Lowering the tracks under Wistow Road bridge in Newton Harcourt.
Network Rail engineers will be conducting these works, as they continue to drive piles into the ground and install masts to carry the wiring. To ensure these works are completed safely, necessary changes to passenger services between Sheffield, Nottingham, Corby and London St Pancras will be implemented across three weekends in March, being Sunday 12th, Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th, 25th and 26th March.
Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail said:
“In order to create an electric Midland Main Line that’s fit for the future, we need to change some of the structures through Leicestershire and clear space for our train-powering equipment.
“We’re really sorry if this impacts people’s plans and we’ve worked closely with train operators to plan diversions and offer bus replacements to keep people moving.”
Planned industrial action around this time will also have a detrimental impact to passenger services, seeing strikes and an overtime ban in March and April.
Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director for EMR said:
“Strike action will also affect EMR services on Saturday 18 March and we will be running a significantly reduced train service on all of our routes. Please check the EMR website for full details.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst the engineering work along the Midland Main Line is taking place.”
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