Gretna JN to Kilmarnock summer 2017 closure

[Blindtraveler]

Appologies if already covered but I note this stretch is currently shut for works and will be til the 23rd. What are they doing this time out of interest? Is it a project or just general heavy maintainance?
Cheers

 

[jimm]

Track maintenance, according to the notice on the Scotrail website. It doesn't give any more detail than that.

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de...kilmarnock_-_carlisle_15-23_july_2017_web.pdf

 

[70014IronDuke]

Track maintenance, according to the notice on the Scotrail website. It doesn't give any more detail than that.

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de...kilmarnock_-_carlisle_15-23_july_2017_web.pdf

Nine days solid? And all the way from Gretna to Kilmarnock?

That must be some work they are doing, surely? I mean, they could have closed just the Dumfries - Kilmarnock section, or Gretna - Dumfries, but the lot?
Perhaps they'll restore, what's it called, Thornhill? station while they are at it?

 

[jimm]

Have now found a BBC story giving some more detail on what's happening.

Four miles of track is being renewed along the line from Mauchline in the north to Dumfries in the south.
Work in Mauchline will also see two bridges over Ayr Road strengthened and repaired with further bridge works planned at Annan viaduct.
Specialists have been working at that site since May to carry out masonry repairs and strengthening works.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-40567634

 

[snowball]

The BBC piece is probably based on this press release from July 10th:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...to-close-for-nine-day-infrastructure-upgrade/

Kilmarnock-Carlisle line to close for nine day infrastructure upgrade

Engineers will be working around-the-clock to deliver a multi-million pound programme of upgrade and refurbishment projects along the route from Saturday, July 15, to Sunday, July 23.

Replacement bus services will operate between Kilmarnock and Carlisle during this period to help minimise disruption for passengers while we deliver this vital investment in Scotland’s railway.

Our engineers will be renewing over four miles of track at locations along the line from Mauchline in the north to Dumfries in the south.

In Mauchline, work to repair and strengthen the two railway bridges over Ayr Road will also be taking place with further bridgeworks in the south, at Annan Viaduct, where specialists have been working since May to carry out masonry repairs and strengthening works.

Due to the complexity of the engineering work and the heavy machinery involved, these projects cannot be delivered without the short-term closure of the line.

Buses will replace trains between Kilmarnock and Carlisle from start of service on Saturday July 15 until Monday July 24, when train services will resume.

Additional track works will also be delivered on Sundays into August with buses replacing trains between Kilmarnock and Dumfries on July 30 and August 6,13,20,27.

Lindsay Saddler, head of maintenance delivery for the ScotRail Alliance, said: “The work we are undertaking is vital for the long-term future reliability of the line and part of our commitment to delivering the best railway Scotland has ever had.

“Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete this complex programme as quickly as possible. We understand the inconvenience these works will cause to some passengers, residents and motorists and we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.”

 

[Blindtraveler]

Cheers

 

[The Planner]

Nine days solid? And all the way from Gretna to Kilmarnock?

That must be some work they are doing, surely? I mean, they could have closed just the Dumfries - Kilmarnock section, or Gretna - Dumfries, but the lot?
Perhaps they'll restore, what's it called, Thornhill? station while they are at it?

Cheaper to do it all in one go and the operators will prefer that strategy too.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Cheaper to do it all in one go and the operators will prefer that strategy too.

Sure. And if needs be, needs be. I was just surprised a bit that with such a long length of closure, nobody seemed to know at first what was going on - since it had to be important work given the extensiveness of the possession.

 

[mcmad]

Its been fairly standard for a good few years now to get a weeks blockade of the GSW around the Glasgow Fair holiday. With the pummelling it was getting from the coal traffic a lot of structures work is needed and the track renewals jump into the structures possession to get as much done in a short length of time as possible.

 

[snowball]

I was just surprised a bit that with such a long length of closure, nobody seemed to know at first what was going on - since it had to be important work given the extensiveness of the possession.

The press release I quoted in #5 had been up on the NR site for 8 days before your post #3.

 

[Class 170101]

I imagine the route took a good beating with the diversion of WCML traffic when Lamington nearly disappeared as well. Also how much work was deferred?

 

[Altfish]

There has already been bridge replacement works; the two bridges in Cummertrees to the west of Annan were replaced a couple of years ago.

The line was also closed for a while following the crashed engineering train north of Dumfries.

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...er-successful-nine-day-programme-of-upgrades/

The line between Kilmarnock and Carlisle has re-opened following successful completion of a multi million pound programme of work

Engineers worked around-the-clock to deliver a programme of upgrade and refurbishment projects along the route from Saturday, July 15, to Sunday, July 23. This included strengthening two bridges in Mauchline, renewal of over four miles of track between Mauchline and Dumfries and extensive masonry repairs and strengthening work on the Annan viaduct.

Due to the complexity of the engineering work and the heavy machinery involved, these projects could not have been delivered without the short-term closure of the line.

Replacement bus services were in operation between Kilmarnock and Carlisle during this period to help minimise disruption for passengers while we delivered this vital investment in Scotland’s railway.

Lindsay Saddler, head of maintenance delivery said: “The work we delivered is vital for the long-term future reliability and resilience of the line. Engineers worked around-the-clock to deliver this programme of work.

“We understand the inconvenience these works will cause to some passengers, residents and motorists and we work hard to keep disruption to a minimum. Sometimes however some inconvenience is unavoidable and we are grateful for the patience and cooperation shown by passengers during the delivery of work.”

Work is ongoing on all of the bridge projects and additional track works will also be delivered on Sundays into August with buses replacing trains between Kilmarnock and Dumfries on July 30 and August 6,13,20,27.

 

[snowball]

Is this related to this thread?

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/network-rail-completes-mauchline-railway-bridge-refurbishment/

Network Rail completes Mauchline railway bridge refurbishment

Work to repair and strengthen the two railway bridges over Ayr Road, Mauchline is now complete.

The project on the bridges was part of a wider programme of work on our structures which is needed every 25 years and designed to extend their lifespan and continue to ensure the safe operation of the railway infrastructure.

The refurbishment included steel strengthening, metal repairs, waterproofing and work on the bridge’s masonry as well as on the track and ballast running over the structure.

In addition to temporary traffic lights on Ayr Road, the project also used some overnight road closures to enable work to be delivered safely. The project also worked around the clock during the nine day shut-down of the railway line in July between Kilmarnock and Dumfries to ensure the scheme was delivered with the minimum disruption to both road and rail users.

Billy McKay, Network Rail programme manager, said: “Delivering this work on both of the bridges was a logistical challenge, but we planned the job carefully with our contractors Taziker and completed it with the minimum possible inconvenience to the local community.

“We appreciate that temporary traffic lights on the road were not ideal but this was the most efficient and safest way to undertake the work required on the bridges and we thank the local community for their patience as we delivered this important project.”

If you have any questions about this work you can contact Network Rail’s 24 hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For latest information and updates follow on twitter @NetworkRailScot

 

[chiltern trev]

yes - same job.