Network Rail has announced that the national rail network has reopened after workers worked round-the-clock over the August bank holiday weekend to make sure essential upgrades were delivered to provide passengers with a more reliable railway.
London Euston station has reopened today, Tuesday 28 August 2018, after the second stage of work to replace North Wembley junction was completed.
The West Coast main line is fully open today as planned. However, to complete this work, the line and London Euston will be closed this weekend for the final time.
The railway between Birmingham International and Rugby also fully reopened this morning on time and as planned.
Work continued over the weekend to complete the upgrade of the railway between Manchester and Preston via Bolton.
What did the officials say?
Martin Frobisher, route managing director at Network Rail, said:
“This work is part of our ongoing Railway Upgrade Plan which will provide customers with a better railway. There is never a good time to carry out work that affects services, but we worked closely with the train operators for it to cause the least amount of disruption. I would like to thank passengers for their understanding while we complete these vital upgrades.”
Andrew Conroy, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway said:
“We put a lot of work into making sure that people who had to travel this weekend could keep moving. While we would all have preferred to be running a full train service , our customers responded well and we should also thank those who heeded the message to travel on alternative days.”
Peter Broadley, executive director for customer, operations, and safety at Virgin Trains on the west coast, said:
“We'd like to thank customers for bearing with us during the significant disruption caused by these renewals works.”
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Also major upgrades on Norwich-London Main Line (Great Eastern Main Line) that has also been completed during August bank holiday which includes:
*120 metres of track, one set of points, one new buffer stop and 1,200 tons of ballast were replaced at Colchester station.
*Installation of nearly 3km of track between Manningtree and Ardleigh.
*Five structures that carry overhead wires were replaced between Marks Tey and Colchester.
Plus further work on the Felixstowe branch line (Ipswich-Felixstowe) as part of a £60.4 million programme to install a 1.4km of track loop near Trimley station. Which will enable an increase in freight services, as well as improvements to the reliability of existing passenger services. Which is also good news.
And even the continuation of Network Rail replacing overhead wires on the Great Eastern Main Line in East London between Ilford and Stratford (as well as replacing overhead wires at Stratford (high level) station). And replacing overhead wires in Essex on the Southend Victoria line between Shenfield-Wickford and between Wickford-Southend Victoria (in stages).
With most of the new overhead electrification structures, pillars, gantries and supports erected ready for new overhead wires to be erected which will replace the overhead wires that were first installed in the 1950’s and sag during hot weather. As parts of line that already has new 25kv overhead wires installed and erected near Billericay. Which will continue from September this year and onwards.
And Network Rail continuing on electrification in Lancashire on the Bolton Line between Manchester Victoria-Preston via Bolton. Great Western electrification including between Reading and Newbury that overhead wires will be extended as far as Newbury with Class 387s to terminate there and Class 800s to change power.
And electrification in Scotland that Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa lines are also seeing electrification progressing very well Plus electrification on the Shotts Line between Kirknewton and Holytown via Shotts. With railway station on the Shotts Line including-Carfin, Cleland, Hartwood, Shotts, Fauldhouse, Breich, Addiewell, West Calder and Livingston South already seeing new structures and eventually overhead wires to be erected. Which will continue until March next year before Class 385 and Class 380 EMUs will start using the new electrified Shotts Line between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley.