Remodelling of Wherry Lines gathers pace
A ten-day blockade on the Wherry Lines from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft was largely completed on October 30, although a platform at the Norfolk coastal town remains closed for a fortnight.
The work was carried out as part of the project to complete the resignalling and remodelling of the routes by Spring 2019. Under the blockade, the throat at Great Yarmouth was remodelled. This included a rationalisation of the switches and crossings on the throat and the removal of Platform 1 as well as a siding adjacent to Platform 4, both of which were deemed redundant. A new headshunt was installed for the carriage sidings, which are to be brought back into use for the commissioning of Greater Anglia’s new Stadler bi-mode units, delivery of which starts next summer.
Track renewals were carried out in the Somerleyton area, where 186 metres of track was plain lined, and a redundant crossover removed.
Maintenance work was also carried out on Somerleyton Swing Bridge, ready for removing a temporary speed restriction that has been in place.
NR spokesman Katie Mack revealed that the problem at Great Yarmouth concerned an issue with the run-in to platform. “This will be rectified in the next couple of weeks under a separate evening possession. Greater Anglia are now running to their winter timetable so it will not affect passenger services at Great Yarmouth,” she said.