1997-03-13 Work at Kingsferry Bridge (Railtrack plc)

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date 26 October 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Two one hundred year old bridges are signing off active duty this weekend as two [[?]] 0,000 replacements are put in place by Railtrack.

The bridges at Horsley and Hinchley Wood are being replaced over a 52 hour closure of the Surbiton to Guildford line via Cobham.

The bridge replacement at Horsley is a rail over road bridge and is termed by railway engineers as a superstructure reconstruction, involving the removal of the iron deck of the bridge with a new steel and concrete deck being lifted into replace it. The actual new bridge deck was constructed in Motherwell, Scotland, and driven down while the old deck will be cut up on site and taken away.

At Hinchley Wood the 100 year old bridge is also receiving a new deck which has been built in the Lynwood Road allotments. The 300 tonnes concrete deck will be moved into position by a series of heavy lift bogies, described by engineers as a Thunderbirds type operation.

Railtrack Project Manager, Mark Huband said of the work, "The two bridges have had trains thundering over them for over a hundred years and are now reaching the end of their useful lives. The scale of the work will inevitably cause inconvenience to some people and we would like to apologise in advance to them."

In addition to the two bridge replacements there is also other maintenance work going on in the area as Railtrack take advantage of the weekend possession.

Railtrack Southern Director, Chris Jago said, "The engineering work at Horsley and Hinchley Wood is further evidence of Railtrack? commitment to invest and provide a railway for the 21st Century."

South West Trains are laying on special bus services during the closure of the line.

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-10-26 RTK-001