£7.1m railway improvement programme to start in North East
The engineering programme will take place over three weekends – 19-20 September, 26-27 September and 3-4 October – with works taking place at sites between Newcastle and the Scottish border.
The programme of railway improvement works will be carried out by Network Rail and will include track, drainage, signalling, and overhead line upgrades along the East Coast Main Line.
More than 3.2km of new track will be laid at Heaton North, Morpeth, and Shortridge as part of the programme, with the aim of improving the reliability and condition of the route.
Eight sets of points will also be replaced or refurbished at Heaton North, Morpeth, Alnmouth, and Tweedmouth. The points allow trains to move between different tracks and are being upgraded to improve reliability.
The programme will also see 1.5km of overhead line equipment renewed to support the reliability of electric train services.
Drainage improvements are planned at Scremerston, alongside the clearance of more than four miles of existing drainage systems. The work is intended to reduce the risk of flooding and weather-related disruption.
Network Rail will also carry out vegetation management along the route, including work to keep signals clear and prevent trees and leaves from coming into contact with overhead power lines.
The investment forms part of a wider programme of improvements to the East Coast Main Line, with a further £4.6m being invested in engineering works between North Berwick and Dunbar in Scotland.
The works will require a number of line closures over the three weekends, with some services diverted and rail replacement services operating on affected sections of the route.
Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail and LNER, said: “This is a major programme of work that will help deliver a more reliable railway between Newcastle and Scotland for passengers and freight customers.
“These three weekends of work will see us deliver a significant package of improvements – renewing track, points, drainage and overhead line equipment across the route.
“By investing in this vital infrastructure now, we can reduce the risk of delays caused by flooding and failures, and help provide smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers and freight services.
“We know that engineering work causes disruption to passengers and we’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected. We want to thank passengers and residents for their patience while this essential work takes place.”
