From the
Saltash Community Rail Partnership:
Additional enhancements for the Royal Albert Bridge, on the main railway line between Plymouth and Cornwall, have been proposed.
Proposals have been made for the current refurbishment of the Royal Albert Bridge to be expanded, to include provision for electrification in anticipation of the electrification of the Great Western Main Line (GWML▸ ).
Rail infrastructure company Network Rail say that the necessary catenary structures could be installed over the single line viaduct, as part of their current maintenance and repainting of the historic structure.
In a feasibility report, Network Rail say they are investigating the additional cost involved in adding overhead power lines on the bridge.
Local rail users are delighted with this development. A spokesman for the Saltash Community Rail Partnership said, ^This is the best news we^ve had since they raised the tolls on the Tamar Road Bridge^.
First Great Western is also pleased with this proposal. A spokesman said, ^This is good news, allowing us to plan for further improvements to our already excellent train services in Cornwall ^ assuming we win the next franchise bid and that electrification reaches this far west.^
One major obstacle to the scheme, however, is the need to obtain planning permission for the construction of the necessary gantries over the line on either side of the historic bridge.
Only the bridge structure is owned by Network Rail, so permission is not required for such engineering work on the bridge itself.
Likely as electrification is, it remains to be seen how realistic this proposal may be.
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