A BRIDGE over a railway in Winterbourne has reopened after six months of reconstruction work preparing it for electrification.


The bridge over the railway on Harcombe Hill reopened on Thursday, April 2, after the reconstruction work, which started in October last year, was completed on time.


The reconstruction of the bridge is an essential part of Network Rail’s electrification programme to enable a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains to serve commuters in Gloucestershire travelling on the route from Cardiff to Paddington.


The reconstruction involved raising the height of the bridge to create the additional space needed for the overhead lines which will power the new electric trains to run underneath.


Andrew Haynes, Network Rail’s project director, said: “I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we carried out the work needed to prepare this bridge for the electrification of the railway.


“Now the bridge is open, people and businesses in the area are a step closer to seeing the benefits that electrification and the new electric trains will bring.”


The Great Western electrification programme involves the transformation of the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff to deliver a faster, greener, quieter and more reliable railway for passengers, with extra capacity.