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Railhub Archive
1997-11-18 RTK-001
Railtrack plc0
Railtrack starts Gospel Oak-Barking line improvements
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   Railtrack starts Gospel Oak-Barking line improvements
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date 18 November 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release
Railtrack's plan to improve the Gospel Oak-Barking line starts this weekend when a hundred year old bridge at Bream Close, Tottenham is completely renewed. The £1.2 million project involves the demolition of the 1892-built wrought iron structure, replacing it with a modern steel bridge. The work is the first of a number of projects designed to improve the 13 mile orbital route.
Initial work to prepare the site is now complete with the main part of the work scheduled for the weekend of 22/23 November. Engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete the work in time for the morning rush on Monday 24 November.
Bream Close will have restricted access for residents only from 0700 on Friday 21 November. Work will start on Friday night, beginning with the removal of the railway tracks. The old bridge will be demolished and cranes will be used to lift the two sections of new bridge into position. These will then be secured and the railway tracks and signalling cables reinstated. The line will reopen in the early hours of Monday morning.
"The work is part of Railtrack's commitment to modernise the Gospel Oak-Barking line", said Railtrack structures engineer, Rob Walton, "and is part of our plan to spend £4 million a day across the country for the next ten years on the railway's infrastructure.
"The bridge has had trains thundering over it for over a hundred years and is reaching the end of its useful life. These days our philosophy is to renew bridges in one quick hit rather than spread work out over weeks, or even months, as was often done in the past.
"The scale of the work will inevitably cause inconvenience to some people and we would like to apologise in advance to them, he said. "However, although this method of working does cause major disruption, it is over with quickly, and we find that given a choice it is what most people prefer" he added.
Railhub Archive ::: 1997-11-18 RTK-001
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