In December last year, engineers from Network Rail’s ‘orange army’ began the process of removing the old Royal Mail mail conveyor from Bristol Temple Meads station, culminating in the structure being lifted out on Christmas Day. This time-lapse photography shows the scale of the project and level of work involved.

The removal of the mail conveyor marks the start of work in the south west to electrify the Great Western Main Line. Its removal will ensure there is now enough room in the station for the overhead electric wires that are needed to power the new fleet of electric trains that will be in operation from 2017. These trains are longer, faster, quieter and greener, benefitting passengers and those who live close to the railway line.

Andy Haynes, Network Rail’s west of England project director, said: “We worked hard to ensure the removal of the conveyor caused as little disruption to passengers as possible, which is why we chose to lift out the structure on Christmas Day when there weren’t any trains running.

“Now that it has been removed, those who live and work in Bristol are a step closer to the benefits that electrification and the new electric trains will bring.”

See the time lapse video:

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