Jim Wheeler – PWay Consultant to Swanage Railway, Ian Cutler – GB Card and Partners: Civil Engineering consultant to Swanage Railway, Jon Bridgland – Swanage Railway: Project Manager, Project Wareham and Steven Cashley – Network Rail: National Supply Chain, Project Operations Manager (left to right)
A transport project in Dorset has joined a special nationwide campaign to show the public the positive impact civil engineering has on their lives and show policymakers of all parties why they should continue to invest in the country’s infrastructure.
The “This is Civil Engineering” campaign, launched by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), sees huge banners displayed on infrastructure projects across the UK telling the public what civil engineering is, but also making a clear link between the work taking place and how it will benefit the community. The initiative forms part of ICE’s wider Commit to Infrastructure General Election campaign, and the leading engineering body is hoping it will serve as a reminder that long term investment in infrastructure improves quality of life for the public, regenerates communities and creates jobs.
Project Wareham is being developed by Swanage Railway and supported by GB Card and Partners. The project is an important part of the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership’s objective to enable timetabled rail services to be reintroduced between Swanage and Wareham.
Project Wareham joins a host of other civil engineering projects around the country also raising their banners as part of the campaign launch fortnight. Other projects are also highlighting their benefits via social media forums such as Twitter and Instagram.
Mark Woolley, Project Wareham Director at Swanage Railway, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with GB Card and Partners in upgrading the Swanage branch line and look forward to reinstating passenger train services back to Wareham – a founding objective of ours since 1972. We are optimistic that a trial service will start operating on 50 days during 2016.”
Miranda Housden, ICE South West regional Director, commented: “This is a fantastic heritage railway project offering huge benefits to the community, including reconnecting the Purbeck line to the main network. It really shines a light on civil engineering and its importance to society and this is exactly what we are trying to illustrate through this campaign. ”
