Network Rail has completed a programme of replacing wheel timbers across four railway bridges near Manea in Cambridgeshire.
Until their replacement, there was a speed restriction on the railway line between Ely and Peterborough. That has now been removed, and the speed limit for passenger services raised to 75mph on the line towards Peterborough and 50mph on the line towards Ely.
During the last 20 months, inspections have taken place of wheel timbers along the line to determine the timbers' internal condition.
As a result, 115 wheel timbers on four bridges were identified as needing replacement. It is very important to replace any timbers to avoid further deterioration, which could then lead to either speed restrictions or the closure of the line, significantly disrupting train services.
Wheel timbers differ from traditional railway sleepers in that they provide extra strength and length in areas such as river bridges, and are generally wider and longer than sleepers.
Network Rail, working with its contractor Taziker, replaced 30 wheel timbers across seven weekends.
That follows work at the end of 2020, when 57 pairs of wheel timbers across the four bridges were replaced. Network Rail and its contractors are expected to return to Manea in 2022 to carry out further work on the bridges.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: “Passengers' journeys are now more reliable and safer following this critical work to replace the wheel timbers on the Manea bridges. We also took great care to protect the environment in the area while carrying out the work. I know passengers haven't been able to travel by train on this line over the last seven weekends, and I'd like to thank them for bearing with us, while we carried out the work to improve their journeys for the future.”
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Could Network Rail upgrade the Soham branch line (Kennett-Ely) to double track with Soham station to have 2 platforms. Or a passing loop at Soham so that trains can pass each other with causing tailbacks.