Normal services resume following West Midlands arson attack
Rail services returned to normal between Birmingham Snow Hill,
Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon today after Network Rail engineers
completed repairs to signalling equipment damaged in the recent Small
Heath arson attack.
More than 40 engineers have spent 2,500 hours on site over the past
week repairing line-side equipment, signals and points plus
rebuilding six location cabinets destroyed by fire on Sunday 25
September.
A team of signalling staff has also been on hand 24 hours a day hand
signalling trains through Small Heath to ensure a reduced service
could run during the repairs.
Peter Strachan, London North Western route director, said: "Last
week's attack was a despicable act of vandalism, which has caused
prolonged delays and inconvenience for the thousands of passengers
who rely on rail services along this route.
"I pay tribute to our engineers who have been working round the clock
to ensure services can return fully today. Our signalling staff also
did a magnificent job, standing out in all weathers for the last week
to keep trains moving through Small Heath while repairs were carried
out."
The arson attack at Small Heath, which knocked out signalling along
20 miles of the railway between Birmingham and Warwick, was the
latest in a string of malicious incidents on the railway system in
the West Midlands. It caused over 20,000 train delay minutes with
more than 800 trains cancelled or part cancelled.
Network Rail, in conjunction with train operators, is offering a
£50,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution
of the vandals. Any information should be reported to the British
Transport Police on 0800 405 040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
<*> Network Rail Group. The group for signallers and signalling enthusiasts.
Rail services returned to normal between Birmingham Snow Hill,
Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon today after Network Rail engineers
completed repairs to signalling equipment damaged in the recent Small
Heath arson attack.
More than 40 engineers have spent 2,500 hours on site over the past
week repairing line-side equipment, signals and points plus
rebuilding six location cabinets destroyed by fire on Sunday 25
September.
A team of signalling staff has also been on hand 24 hours a day hand
signalling trains through Small Heath to ensure a reduced service
could run during the repairs.
Peter Strachan, London North Western route director, said: "Last
week's attack was a despicable act of vandalism, which has caused
prolonged delays and inconvenience for the thousands of passengers
who rely on rail services along this route.
"I pay tribute to our engineers who have been working round the clock
to ensure services can return fully today. Our signalling staff also
did a magnificent job, standing out in all weathers for the last week
to keep trains moving through Small Heath while repairs were carried
out."
The arson attack at Small Heath, which knocked out signalling along
20 miles of the railway between Birmingham and Warwick, was the
latest in a string of malicious incidents on the railway system in
the West Midlands. It caused over 20,000 train delay minutes with
more than 800 trains cancelled or part cancelled.
Network Rail, in conjunction with train operators, is offering a
£50,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution
of the vandals. Any information should be reported to the British
Transport Police on 0800 405 040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
<*> Network Rail Group. The group for signallers and signalling enthusiasts.