Christmas will see major progress made on projects in Network Rail’s East Midlands route – part of the £160 million of railway investment nationally this festive season.
On Christmas Day, Kirk Hill bridge in Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire, will be demolished ahead of a new bridge being constructed in February and March.
Kirk Hill Bridge was earmarked to be rebuilt as part of the Midland Mainline electrification programme, announced by the previous Conservative Government to better connect the Midlands with the rest of the country, which the new Labour Government has shelved.
The project will help towards the removal of a speed limit imposed because tamping machines cannot currently access the area to keep the line smooth and straight. The new bridge will also provide more space for larger gauge freight trains to use this section of the railway – helping to reduce road congestion by taking lorries off the road – and will create clearance under the bridge for electric or bi-mode trains should the Midland Main Line electrification project be reinstated.
Much of the work will be done when trains are not running, but passengers are advised to check all parts of their journey before travelling.
Among the projects set for progress over Christmas are Harlington station’s new footbridge, platform strengthening at Chesterfield, demolition of a bridge at Sutton Bonington, and developments at the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange.
Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director, East Midlands route, said:
“This Christmas, we’re making major strides on projects across the East Midlands route as part of the national £130 million investment to improve reliability and safety for passengers. These upgrades will help deliver a more resilient railway for the future. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience and encourage everyone to check before they travel.”
A 500ft crane will install the new footbridge at Harlington station, Bedfordshire, under the £7.9 million investment to replace the ageing structure with a new one designed to last 120 years. The crane will be set up on 23 December, with the main work taking place on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. The new footbridge will improve reliability and safety for passengers while making future maintenance more cost-effective and efficient. Please note that this work means Harlington station’s car park will be fully closed from 23 to 27 December.
Jenny Saunders, customer services director at Thameslink, said:
“Harlington station car park is already partially closed off as a worksite, but it will be shut completely from 23 to 27 December for the new footbridge to be lowered in by crane.
“Passengers are advised to plan how they will travel to Harlington, whether that’s walking or cycling, getting dropped off, or parking at Luton or Leagrave – car park season ticket holders will be able to leave their cars at these neighbouring stations at no extra charge.”
The main work to strengthen two platforms at Chesterfield station will take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The £3.3 million project will see 40-metre sections of platforms 1 and 2 reconstructed to provide better structural integrity – improving passenger experience and reducing maintenance costs in the long term.
Further progress will be made at the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, which had a 6,000-tonne underbridge slid into place under the Midland Main Line at Christmas last year. This time, the freight hub near St Albans in Hertfordshire will see under-track crossings installed to allow utilities equipment to pass safely beneath the railway. Other progress between 24 and 27 December will include embankment earthworks and the installation of a signal gantry and overhead line equipment.
At the London end of the Midland Main Line, ten overhead line headspans will be installed at Cricklewood, and foundations for overhead line equipment will be laid at Kentish Town.
