Rail passengers, York residents and visitors to the city are being reminded to plan ahead this half term as the old bridge deck of Scarborough Rail Bridge will be lifted out and a new one installed.
The work to refurbish the bridge means that no trains can run over it between 14 and 23 February, with coaches replacing First Trans-Pennine Express trains between York and Seamer.
The worksite in York will also affect local residents and visitors. Marygate car park will be closed from 2 to 27 February to safely accommodate the crane and other construction equipment. The footbridge alongside Scarborough railway bridge which also carries National Cycle Network route 65 across the river will be closed from 9 February to 2 March and the shared use paths on either side of the river under Scarborough railway bridge will close between 14 and 22 February.
Network Rail Route Managing Director, Phil Verster, said: “We thank rail passengers, residents and visitors to York for their patience as we complete this essential work. The bridge has given good service for 140 years but now needs significant replacement.
“This is a complex project as the bridge spans the River Ouse and is in the middle of a residential area with narrow streets as well as being close to several important rail lines.
“We have worked very closely with City of York Council and First Trans Pennine Express to minimise our impact on both local residents and the travelling public. We will also deliver around 17 other projects between York and Scarborough while the bridge work is carried out. This additional improvement work is worth around £2m and will help provide more reliable journeys for passengers for many years to come.”
Engineers will be working 24 hours a day on the bridge to complete the work on time.
The last direct trains between York and Scarborough on 13 February leave York at 22:00 and Scarborough at 22:07.
Replacement coaches will run between York and Scarborough every hour. There will be two coaches in each direction each half hour; one stopping service and one express service.
Direct trains between York and Scarborough re-start on Monday 23 February. The first train out of Scarborough will be the 06:30 and the first train out of York will be the 06:40.
Between 14 and 23 February First Trans-Pennine Express services to and from the west will all use platforms 1, 6 & 7 at York station, not platform 4.
The Hull to Scarborough via Bridlington (Yorkshire Wolds Coast) route operated by Northern Rail remains open.
Anna-Jane Hunter, from First Trans-Pennine Express, said: “We are working with Network Rail to minimise the disruption caused by the improvement works and put in place the best possible journey options for customers.
“Express coaches will replace rail services between York and Scarborough and we have issued updated timetables and customer information posters.
“We would advise customers to check before they travel and allow extra time to complete their journey. Full details of the improvements works and alternative arrangements will be available from National Rail Enquiries.”
The other projects on the York to Scarborough during the bridge deck replacement include:
– vegetation clearance to improve driver visibility
– improvement work at Haxby level crossing and Haxby Station level crossing
– track renewals at Malton
– improvements to around eight culverts to improve flood resilience
– general maintenance
– minor improvement work on platforms 2 and 4 at York station
Network Rail has planned this work closely with the Canal and Rivers Trust, Natural England and Environment Agency, securing the necessary permissions. The River Ouse will need to be closed to river traffic for certain times while the work is undertaken.
During the Marygate car park closure, alternative parking can be found at www.york.gov.uk/parking .
Alternative walking and cycle routes are available via either Lendal Bridge or Clifton Bridge for the footbridge closure (9 February to 2 March),.
During the footpath closure (14 and 22 February), pedestrians and cyclists should use Kingsland Terrace/Leeman Road if they would normally use Cinder Lane; and via Longfield Terrace/the subway under the railway/Marygate Lane if they would normally use the path on the Museum Gardens side of the river.
Deliveries and site management are being carefully planned and managed to protect the safety of pedestrians, local residents and the engineers involved.
Parking will be restricted on Marygate and Netherton Road overnight between Friday 6 and Thursday 12 February. The restricted parking areas will be coned off well in advance.