There has been doom and gloom in the air thanks to the snow disruption followed by fare rises and now the VAT increase – but the rail industry also got a big boost over the New Year thanks to the hard work of 250 engineers working flat out.
They successfully completed a breakneck project, years in the planning, to complete 16,000 hours worth of upgrade work at Reading Station and on the track nearby in a matter of days while the station was closed. In the long-term, the project will unclog a major bottleneck on the rail industry.
They resignalled 100 miles of railway and lifted a new 1,000 tonne rail bridge into place over a busy dual carriageway in the town, while most of us were tucking into turkey and enjoying the New Year celebrations. They deserve a seasonal ‘cheers’ from all of us.
