Box tunnel reopens

[DSY011]

A 170-year-old rail tunnel near Bath has reopened following six weeks of work to prepare it for electrification.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34112951

Six miles (9.6km) of track, which passes through the historic Box Tunnel, had to be lowered to allow enough space for electrical equipment overhead.
Train services between Chippenham and Bath have resumed as a result.
According to Network Rail, the tunnel opened in June 1841 and has become one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's most celebrated structures.
The rail firm is spending £50m on its Great Western Electrification Programme to ultimately cut journey times between London Paddington and Swansea.


Track has had to be lowered in parts to avoid making changes to historic infrastructure such as Box tunnel, Dundas Aqueduct, Middle Hill tunnel and Sydney Gardens.
In the last six weeks, more than 10,000 new sleepers have been laid and 160,000 tonnes of rubble removed from the track around Box tunnel.

[ianrail]

Hmm, I suppose the tunnel will look strange with overhead wires going through it but that's progress. Soon get used to it, as the tunnels on the east and west coast main lines have been electrified for quite a time now.

[wyvern]

I'm just visualising the cables when they go through Belper cutting in Derbyshire gently fizzing in the morning dew.

[boilersuit]

Originally Posted by DSY011

The rail firm is spending £50m on its Great Western Electrification Programme to ultimately cut journey times between London Paddington and Swansea.

Only £50 million? That sounds astonishingly cheap to me.