Work to sort out congestion on peak train services between Cambridge and King's Lynn is set to start this autumn.
Following confirmation of a funding package from the Department for Transport in February, Network Rail has appointed VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver the £27m scheme.
This will see upgrades including two platform extensions at Waterbeach and one platform extended at Littleport, to 167 meters to accommodate longer trains during peak times.
Littleport station will also have step-free access, and there will be new stabling at King's Lynn to support the longer trains.
Preparation work is expected to start later this summer with main works starting around October 2019.
The work is currently expected to be completed in the summer of 2020 and it is anticipated Great Northern will introduce longer eight-car services at the first available opportunity.
As part of its work to keep the community informed, VolkerFitzpatick and Network Rail are running a number of drop-in sessions to provide an opportunity for residents and businesses to speak to members of the project team. The three planned public sessions are:
Waterbeach:
Tuesday 13 August 2019 from 16:00 to 20:00 at the Waterbeach Baptist Church Hall, Chapel Street Waterbeach CB25 9HR.
Littleport:
Wednesday 14 August 2019 from 15:00 to 21:00 at Littleport Village Hall Day Centre, Victoria Street, Littleport CB6 1LU.
King's Lynn:
Wednesday 21 August 2019, from 17:00 to 20:30 at The Board Room, King's Lynn Football Club, The Walks Stadium, Tennyson Road, King's Lynn PE30 5PB.
From October 2019, some weekend services will be suspended to allow engineers to get onto the track and start to build the platform extensions. Passengers planning to travel at weekends between King's Lynn and Cambridge during autumn and winter are advised to check with their train operator or nationalrail.co.uk before travelling.
What did the officials say?
Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail's route managing director for Anglia, said:
“This important project will enable longer trains to run between Cambridge and King's Lynn during peak times, providing a better service for passengers with more seats, reducing overcrowding.
“We have worked hard to get the project to this stage and I'm excited to see works begin, which once completed will deliver significant benefits for passengers.”
GTR Infrastructure Director Keith Jipps said:
“I am pleased for our passengers that we are getting closer to providing longer trains on the King's Lynn line. This has come as a result of many parties working together and the great support of our councillors, MPs and the Fen Line Users Association.
“Our drivers and trains are ready for us to make these changes as soon as the infrastructure is ready and in line with the current industry timetable process.”
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The single track section on the Fen Line could be upgraded to become double track along with re-electrification work. If it is to be given approval to upgrade that section between Watlington and King’s Lynn to be upgraded from a single track to double track.