Following complaints by Palmers Green resident Donald Smith, Network Rail have now provided a more satisfactory account of the overnight work that will be carried out in the vicinity of Palmers Green station.
The start dates/time and finish dates/times will be as follows:
19/07/2015 01:35 19/07/2015 05:40 PREP
26/07/2015 01:50 26/07/2015 09:40 PREP
02/08/2015 00:01 03/08/2015 06:00 TRACK RENEWAL
09/08/2015 00:01 10/08/2015 06:00 TRACK RENEWAL
16/08/2015 00:01 17/08/2015 06:00 FOLLOW UP WORK
01/09/2015 23:00 02/09/2015 06:00 FOLLOW UP WORK
02/09/2015 23:00 03/09/2015 06:00 FOLLOW UP WORK
03/09/2015 23:00 04/09/2015 06:00 FOLLOW UP WORK
The letter to Mr Smith from Denise Thompson, Community Relations Officer at Network Rail in York, gives the following explanation of the work:
This work is a programme to renew a total of 1120yards of old wooden-sleeper track with new concrete-sleeper track, and will include preparation, track renewal, and follow up works, all in the area of Palmers Green Station.
Preparation work will involve the use of rail trolleys, lighting and generators, setting-up the site and laying out materials and equipment.
Both weekends of the main track renewals work will use several road-rail excavators, and six engineers trains to remove scrap track and spoil from site, and deliver new track and ballast to site. The new track will be made ready for passenger trains by using an on-track tamping machine.
New rails will be welded and stressed, and new track lifted to final design levels, during the staged follow-up works. This work will also involve use of lighting, generators, rail trolleys, and a road-rail excavator.
Safety is our number one priority and for this reason work of this type must be carried out while trains are not running. Under our licence conditions we are contractually obliged to work, whenever possible, at times that cause the least disruption to train services. Unfortunately, this means carrying out a lot of our improvements during the night and at weekends.
The equipment we will be using means some disturbance is unavoidable, but we will make every effort to minimise any unnecessary noise. Furthermore, those working on site are briefed on working responsibly in the local community.
I hope this information is helpful and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience these essential works may cause. However, if you have any additional questions or concerns, please visit www.networkrail.co.uk or telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.
