• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

North East Connected

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PTS bridges the gap to expansion at Wensleydale Railway

18679The expansion plans of a historic Yorkshire railway have moved one step closer, thanks to PTS Demolition & Dismantling.

Wensleydale Railway has taken delivery of Fort Bridge, which previously stretched over the A1 near to Catterick Racecourse. The bridge was removed as part of a major civil engineering project being undertaken by a Carillion Morgan Sindall joint venture to upgrade the A1 between Leeming and Barton for Highways England.

Shildon-based PTS Demolition & Dismantling successfully removed the bridge, during the first phase of a complex demolition project to support the upgrade, which has been bought by the railway.

Fort Bridge will allow Wensleydale Railway to replace a bridge at Redmire, which was removed from the Wensleydale line over Apedale Beck, after suffering flood damage in 1990, and move one step further to linking the line to the station at Aysgarth Falls.

Nigel Park, general manager of the Wensleydale Railway, said: “We are very pleased when businesses both local and regional help the railway as PTS Demolition and Dismantling have done with the Fort Bridge. To be able to reuse such an asset to further the railway’s expansion plans is excellent news.”

Dave Gauja, managing director of PTS Demolition & Dismantling, said: “With the safe removal and recycling of Fort Bridge, this will go a long way to helping improve infrastructure in the region and boosting regional economies following the completion of the upgrade work on the A1.

“We are delighted to have supported Wensleydale Railway with the successful removal of Fort Bridge and assist with its ambitious expansion plans. Hopefully, by bridging the gap at Redmire, this will prove to be the catalyst in creating greater connectivity into the Yorkshire Dales by linking the rail line to Aysgarth Falls.”

Wensleydale Railway has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for the bridge and its installation at Redmire.

For further information about the campaign, or to donate, visit http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/wensleydale-railway-trust-ltd/appeals/help-us-bridge-the-gap

By admin