The shutdowns are for the purposes of replacing defective concrete ties, which have begun failing far earlier than expected, with wooden ones.

A side-effect of track work, including replacing rail and installing concrete ties, has been more delays.

To the front of the church is a 15 metre high campanile consisting of just two brick walls with concrete ties in between.

With the railroad came civilization, and concrete ties to the outside world.

The old hooper cars were renovated and put into service, while the track received new concrete ties.

The concrete ties used to replace them should make track more stable, particularly with changes in temperature.

"I don't have any concrete ties to any particular financial-industrial group," he said last month.

The railroad is already installing concrete ties and better rails, and a signal system that can handle trains at 150 miles an hour.

These concrete ties will be used in high stress environments and with a much safer high speed rail system.

Following research carried out on French and other European railways, the modern pre-stressed concrete tie was developed.