OREANDA-NEWS. April 06, 2015. The reconstruction of this bridge is an essential part of Network Rail’s electrification programme and will enable a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains to serve commuters in Gloucestershire travelling on the route from Cardiff to Paddington.

The reconstruction, which started in October 2014, involved raising the height of the bridge to create the additional space needed for the overhead lines which will power the new electric trains to run underneath.

Andrew Haynes, Network Rail’s project director, said: “I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we carried out the work needed to prepare this bridge for the electrification of the railway.

“Now the bridge is open, people and businesses in the area are a step closer to seeing the benefits that electrification and the new electric trains will bring.”

ENDS

About the Great Western Electrification Programme

Electrification will transform the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff to deliver a faster, greener, quieter and more reliable railway for passengers, with extra capacity. Electrifying this part of the Great Western route will enhance 235 miles of one of Britain’s busiest and oldest railways, better connecting major towns and cities across southern England and South Wales. This investment, as well as the introduction of a fleet of new trains, will improve journey times and make services more comfortable, smoother, cleaner and quieter for passengers and people living near the railway.

About Network Rail

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain’s railway – the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts, and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.6bn journeys by rail every year - double the number of 1996 - and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We’re investing ?38bn in the railway by 2019 to deliver more frequent, more reliable, safer services and brighter and better stations.
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