Andrew has welcomed confirmation from Network Rail that they will be investing £40,000 into the subway drainage system in Goole and that they have developed a two-phase plan to address flooding concerns.
Users of the subways are currently forced to walk on the road when the subways flood, or travel a significant distance to reach their destination.
The first phase of the works, which are an interim measure, includes a new replacement pump with remote monitoring from Network Rail’s York control centre; plus a spare pump on standby nearby. It also includes resilience measures including; refurbishing the chambers, undertaking weekly checks and carrying out heavy duty clearance programmes every six months. Works will also improve the flow of water, including replacement of the existing Windsor trap which takes water into the foul system.
Network Rail’s project team are currently finalising this first phase, with works hoped to be started in this calendar year.
Network Rail’s long-term ambition for the subways is to abandon the current Victorian system and replace it with a whole new modern system, with two separate pumps in each subway. This second phase scheme is designed and ready to go but will not be in the funding period until 2019/20.
Even if the first-phase is successful, preventing any further flooding of the subways, the decision has been taken to still replace the entire system post-2019 as servicing the current system requires a road closure. However, if the interim measures don't work, there is a chance that the longer term works could be brought forward to address this.
East Riding Council has also agreed to look at the drainage at the top of the ramps into the subways as there are no drains at the top to take water away from there. As a result, this water is currently draining into the subways, increasing the volume, and additional drains will help with this. The Council will also be installing additional litter bins.
Andrew, who has led a campaign for improvements in the subways, reports, “I’m pleased that we now have a scheme in place to tackle this issue. When these subways flood it is not only an inconvenience, but it is also dangerous for users.
I’ve made it clear to Network Rail that the current situation is unacceptable and I welcome Network Rail accepting that Goole is a unique problem which needs sorting! We have seen other works in the past few years following our pressure, but this has not been sufficient or has been of limited success due to other factors.
The overall aim is to get a modern, fully accessible, system with a pump in both subways and I’ve pushed Network Rail on the timings for these works. They have explained that the first phase of works will significantly improve the system and are expected to happen this calendar year.
Whilst it has taken a long time to get to this point, we now have a clear plan as well as much better communication between everyone involved which is very positive.”
Photo - Andrew meets with Network Rail to discuss plans for the subways.
