Hitchin

This is a two year; £6.2 million project and VolkerRail are to deliver all the rail system elements including design, p-way, OLE, signalling and E&P works. The Project involves the construction of a new single track electrified railway providing a grade separated link, partly on a viaduct structure and partly on embankment, which will allow Cambridge bound trains from London to pass over the top of the East Coast Main Line; this will increase reliability and assist in improving capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

The new junction will be positioned at Hitchin north junction approximately 1.1km North of Hitchin station, to link the down slow and down fast lines of the East Coast Main Line with the Down Cambridge line.

The programme splits into four phases:

• Works to facilitate building the new viaduct over the East Coast Main Line
• Installing the new connections in the East Coast Main Line and the Cambridge line
• Build the new line between East Coast Main Line connection and Cambridge line connection
• Commission and bring into use the new line

The main contract commenced in August 2011, with the first phase being completed March 2012.