The East Coast Main Line will see a number of upcoming closures as a £5.7M upgrade project from Network Rail has begun. During the project 750m of drainage improvements at various locations between Reston and Drem will be completed to stabilise an embankment.
Engineers will also replace 6km of worn railway track with new stone ballast, sleepers and rails, and more than 30 engineering trains will be deployed to do so. At the same time, de-vegetation works will be taking place with teams cutting back overhanging trees and bushes at various points on the line.
When complete, the line will be more resilient and reliable throughout the year, according to Network Rail. The first of four closures began on Saturday, 16 September, at 10:40pm and lasted until 6am this morning, Monday, 18 September, seeing the section of line between Edinburgh and Berwick closed for track and drainage work.
This section of the line will close again from 1:30am on Saturday, 30 September till 5:30am on Monday, 2 October and again on Saturday, 7 October to Monday, 9 October for continuation of this work. Then the North Berwick and Borders lines will be closed on Sunday, 17 September and Sunday, 24 September, with the North Berwick line also closing on Saturday, 30 September and Sunday, 1 October.
Cross border services will also be affected by unrelated work taking place in England throughout each of the four Saturdays and Sundays. Network Rail route director for Scotland Liam Sumpter said: “The work we are undertaking is vital for the long-term future reliability of the line.
“Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete these complex projects as quickly as possible. “We understand the inconvenience these works will cause to some passengers and residents and we thank them for their patience. We are committed to completing this work quickly and limiting disruption where possible.”
Source: NEW CIVIL ENGINEER