Work which saw rail crossings across South Holland closed over the past couple of weeks has been completed on schedule.
The crossings in Park Road and Woolram Wygate were among 15 across the area which were temporarily closed or controlled by traffic lights, bringing traffic misery to the town centre.
The work was phase four of the £280million Government-funded project to upgrade the Great Northern Great Eastern line.
Network Rail engineers worked round-the-clock to bring 15 modernised level crossings and 15 miles of new signalling into service, to transform the GNGE line between Peterborough and Doncaster via Spalding.
Other crossings upgraded included those in Donington, Quadring, Gosberton, Gosberton Risegate, Surfleet and Pinchbeck.
This means the line is open again, and train services can run as normal.
Following the upgrade, trains will be able to travel up to 70mph on the line.
The four main level crossings in Spalding – Hawthorn Bank, Winsover Road, Park Road and Mill Green (Woolram Wygate) – will be covered by CCTV, monitored by an operation room in Lincoln. As trains pass, barriers will shut later and open sooner than at present.
More freight will be put on the line to ease pressure on the East Coast Main Line.
The upgrading of the 15 level crossings with the latest technology is the most so far delivered in a single block of work.
Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “We thank the local community, particularly businesses, for their patience and understanding during these works.
“The GNGE line is an important route for both freight and passenger trains.
“Demand for rail services continues to grow, and the upgrade of this line is an important project to help meet that demand.”
Phase five of the project – between Spalding and Peterborough – will take place in late October.
It will effect crossings in Winsover Road and Hawthorn Bank, as well as others out towards Peterborough.
Network Rail will be holding further exhibitions in Spalding and other communities to the south of the town affected by the works.
Dates for these events and the work will be released in due course.
Further information is available by calling Network Rail’s community relations team on 08457 11 41 41 or by emailing [email protected]
