Final section of works complete at Kings Lynn
The final section of infrastructure works on the £29 million upgrade of the rail line between Kings Lynn and Cambridge has been completed over the August bank holiday.
Over the last 11 months, work funded by the Department for Transport have seen VolkerFitzpatrick deliver a new siding outside King’s Lynn station, and lengthened platforms at Littleport and Waterbeach.
This means that from December, longer, eight-carriage trains will be able to run on the line, adding thousands of extra seats for Great Northern passengers, and reducing overcrowding, especially for busy commuter services.
Between now and December, essential track, safety and train testing will take place, alongside driver training, to ensure everything is ready for the uplift in services.
Despite restrictions imposed by Covid-19, Network Rail and VolkerFitzpatrick have worked hard to complete the works, and the finishing touches to the new siding at Kings Lynn allow for the longer trains to be parked, ready for the first and last services of the day.
The project has also included an extension of platform 2 at Littleport and both platforms at Waterbeach station, allowing longer trains to safely call at these stops from December. Littleport station has also had new stairs and a ramp built on the southbound platform 1, to improve accessibility and safety for passengers.
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “This is an important investment and one that will deliver on our promise to passengers to modernise, upgrade and uplift services and infrastructure.
“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all the teams at Network Rail, this final piece of the project has been completed despite restrictions imposed by Covid-19. I look forward to seeing the new-look upgraded Fen Line ready for passengers soon.”
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Our teams have been working hard to ensure that the new siding at King’s Lynn was completed this August bank holiday.
“With this milestone achieved, we can now focus on ensuring the new infrastructure is ready for Great Northern’s longer trains to begin running in December and delivering on our promise to provide a better journey experience for passengers using the Fen line.”