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Getting heavy on the Underground

Getting heavy on the Underground

30/09/2006 | Channel: Rolling Stock, Infrastructure

A new fleet of heavy-duty, national rail engineering trains has been put into action on the London Underground network by Metronet Rail

A new fleet of heavy-duty, national rail engineering trains has been put into action on the London Underground network by Metronet Rail, bringing a stepchange in the company\'s capabilities. Metronet has already renewed more than 55 kilometres of track since it began work in April 2003 and has a further 19 kilometres of track renewals planned for this year – 10 kilometres more than the previous year. Ultimately the fleet will double the length of track typically renewed in any one weekend from around 500 metres to 1 kilometre, as well as triple the number of worksites Metronet can operate on the sub-surface lines of the Metropolitan, District, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines. The fleet is owned and operated by GB Railfreight under a ten-year, £80 million service contract.