Posted 24th June 2013 | 4 Comments
Network Rail unveils £40m West Coast project
NETWORK RAIL has published details of a £40 million scheme to upgrade key elements of the West Coast Main Line. The project follows a critical report from Virgin Trains chief operating officer Chris Gibb, which highlighted weak points along the route.
Mr Gibb was on secondment to NR when he drew up the report, which drew attention to problems with overhead power lines and lineside security. Better fencing means that fewer people and animals can get on to the line, and also act as a disincentive to cable thieves.
A specialist team of engineers has walked the route between London and Rugby and recommended a series of improvements to improve the reliability of the infrastructure, while Network Rail is changing the way it stores and analyses overhead line condition data which is captured by two specially adapted Pendolino trains. NR said this change will allow the data to be analysed so that maintenance can be completed more quickly.
Around £10 million of the fund will pay for 18km of new fencing at key locations. Network Rail is also working with London Midland and Samaritans on suicide prevention measures at stations between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central.
Network Rail has come under fire over West Coast performance from the Office of Rail Regulation and also Virgin Trains, which is currently claiming compensation for alleged damage to its business caused by infrastructure failures.
Route managing director Dyan Crowther said: “We are not satisfied with the current performance of our infrastructure on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line, which is one of Britain’s most vital rail arteries.
“This line has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years and, just like a busy motorway during rush hour, more trains mean that if something goes wrong, the knock on effects can be significant.
“We have identified almost £40 million worth of investment aimed at improving performance by targeting some of the most common causes of delay. Some of the measures will be delivered in a few months while others are more long-term.”
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
Leslie burge, leicester
Lineside fencing costs shouldn't be borne by the railways and I don't think Network rail should be penalised for suicides on the track. It doesn't matter how much fencing etc goes up.If people want to commit suicide you won't stop them.
Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Remember the WCML upgrade did not finally produce what was originally promised due to cost overruns meaning elements had to be cancelled,
No doubt some schemes promised then are only now being delivered by Network Rail and I bet at better VFM than Railtrack would have done !
This spending of millions on fencing raises the question as to whether other countries fence their railways and as to whether the cost should be borne by the railway or the landowner next door ?
Philip Russell, Carlisle
If it is proven better fencing does actually reduce the tragic number of suicides on the railway then its got to be money well spent,however routine maintenance aside, im surprised more needs to be invested in the overhead line equipment as i thought most of this particularly on the southern section was renewed during the lines recent upgrading
jak jaye, leamingto spa
Another one? how many more 'improvements' can be made anyway they would be better off doing something about the nationwide 'signalling problems' that are shown on Nat Rails website on an almost hourly basis.
whats going to happen when the new 'super' signalling centres come on stream,cant wait for plan B!