R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

sustaining
With work completed
at over 50% of
stations and with
a further 200 with
works currently
under way, this major
programme is due for
completion in 2001
40
4.4 continued 4.5
Electrification renewals. We are wo rking with
European-wide suppliers and part n e rs to evaluate altern a t i ve
designs of key infra s t ructure components and to deve l o p
i n n ov a t i ve solutions to commonly shared probl e m s .We are
also developing software-based tools for optimising
maintenance and inspection periodicity for our electri fi c a t i o n
assets with industry part n e rs in Great Bri t a i n .
We are continuing to fund and install innov a t i ve
i n f ra s t ructure equipment, more of which will be commissioned
this year to check the correct operation of train pantogra p h s ,
and have developed a system fitted to service trains to check
for poor quality in the overhead wire contact system. In both
c a s e s ,these have reduced delays caused by pantograph and
overhead-line problems which benefit opera t o rs as well as us.
We have developed a solid-state regulator to improve
the reliability of signalling back-up supplies, c u rr e n t ly on trial at
Long Buckby, and a maintenance-free 25kV circuit breaker to
i m p r ove perfo rmance reliability and flexibility, and to reduce
both capital and whole-life costs.
There are plans for powe r- s u p p ly enhancement for the
West Coast Route Modern i s a t i o n ,East Coast Main Line
u p g rade and Thameslink 2000 projects to renew equipment,
to enable more services to opera t e, and to increase speeds.
4.5 Stations
There are 2,499 stations on the rail network.
Our stations provide the visible and physical interface
with the rail network and, as such,influence the experience
of every rail passenger. It is,therefore, of considerable
importance to us and our customers that stations provide
necessary facilities in a condition suitable for a modern
railway.
Many of our stations fall short of this ideal owing to a
legacy of underinvestment,and changes in customer and
passenger expectations. We are rectifying this situation
through major investment programmes and,while we are
replacing defective and out-of-date facilities in modern form,
wherever practicable we are also working with our
customers to develop stations in line with their passengers’
emerging requirements.Details of enhancements we
propose are given in Section 6.
Station regeneration programme. The Station
Regeneration Programme (SRP) is now beginning its fourth
year and has made considerable progress in remedying the
legacy of inherited defects.With work completed at over
50% of stations and with a further 200 with works currently
under way, this major programme is due for completion in
2001.
The experience gained and the innovations made in the
very ear ly stages of the programme have continued
throughout the past year, with on-site solutions to common
problems,greater use of IT and new procurement initiatives
all helping to deliver the programme in the most cost-
effective manner.
While the programme’s primary objective was to
remedy inherited defects,close communication with our
customers has led to many instances of improved facilities,
providing a timely upgrade for numerous stations.
Recognition for the achievements of this programme
has come in numerous award nominations for station
regeneration with Aviemore, Grange-over-Sands and
Braintree receiving National Railway Heritage Awards,
Stirling,a Certificate of Commendation,and Wrexham a
Civic Society Award.
The assistance of the Railway Heritage Trust has been
of great value during this process ensuring the best fit
solution for many historic structures.