Network Rail takes advantage of ‘once in a generation’ access to key line

Network Rail

NETWORK Rail has taken advantage of ‘once in a generation’ access to the West Coast Mainline and invested over £2 million in boosting its safety and performance.

It comes on the back of the £164 million upgrade of Carstairs junction, which included a 21-day shutdown of the line. This allowed Network Rail to deliver a wide range of work at multiple locations on the key cross border route.

The extended track access on the back of the shutdown allowed work to be carried out that Network Rail said otherwise would not have been viable or efficient, with it being restricted to only Saturday nights in ordinary circumstances.

Focused on improving safety and performance, the extended track access allowed work to be carried out that Network Rail said otherwise would not have been viable or efficient, if restricted to only Saturday nights – with the equivalent of nine months of Saturday night work delivered in the 21-day access period.

Activity included the renewal of overhead lines and track, vegetation management, and extensive inspection work on structures to monitor safety and performance and to inform future maintenance and investment planning.

A total of 356 square kilometres of vegetation was cleared between Gretna and Lockerbie,  40 overhead line wire runs stretching almost 2.5km in length were completed and repairs, and maintenance was undertaken on more than 2km of drainage.

Network Rail inspected the stability of 200 lineside embankments and ‘hot weather preparation’ was carried out ahead of the summer months. Daytime inspections of 68kmof track were also carried out to identify and remove defects. In addition, 200 tonnes of redundant material was cleared from the lineside area and around access points on the route.

Projects such as the installation of a new £16 million access bridge at Ravenscraig and the remodelling of Platform 1 at Glasgow Central – planned to coincide with the line closure  – delivered significant efficiencies and cost savings, Network Rail revealed. Without the extended track access, it was projected that the platform renewal could have taken more than four years.

Liam Sumpter, Scotland’s railway route director, said, “The extended track access afforded by the project at Carstairs Junction allowed us to undertake work that would not have been viable or efficient if restricted to only Saturday nights.

“Getting onto the West Coast Main Line in daylight enabled us to carry out detailed inspections of structures and line-side assets. This informed immediate maintenance work and provided valuable insights to help inform future investment planning.

“Had we used normal access arrangements this work would have stretched over many months and would have been considerably more costly. Instead, we have delivered more for less in a way that has reduced disruption for lineside neighbours and for our passengers.”