Work on the West Coast Main Line will be carried out this summer to increase
the speed that trains can travel. Four major rail junctions will also be replaced
and enhanced. The work will improve the reliability of the infrastructure and the
punctuality of train services on Britain’s busiest mixed-use railway line.
The £18m improvement scheme will be completed over nine days from Saturday 13
July to Sunday 21 July when four life-expired junctions will be replaced and three
miles of track re-laid.
During the project, over an 18 mile stretch of line near Wigan, trains will be unable
to use the Warrington to Preston section of the route. Train operators will be making
alternative arrangements to help passengers complete their journeys during the line
closure.
Dyan Crowther, route managing director, said: “This scheme represents significant
investment in the railway in this area to increase line speeds and make the railway
more reliable and punctual for our customers.
“There is never a good time to carry out major work on such a busy route and after
careful discussion with the train operators and industry partners, it became apparent
that undertaking this vital investment in nine consecutive days in July would, overall,
cause less disruption.
“Train services are quieter at this time and fewer people are expected to experience
changes to their travel plans compared to the work being staggered over the next two
years, impacting on dozens of weekends and Bank Holidays.”
Usually, Network Rail would have carried out work of this kind over a number of Bank
Holiday weekends requiring train services to be replaced repeatedly by alternative
transport. By carrying out the work in a nine-day continuous spell this summer,
engineers expect to be able to complete the replacement of the four junctions around
16 months earlier and to avoid disrupting rail travel plans for many weekends and
bank holidays over the next two years.
MTB 24/05/13
investment in the railway in this area to increase line speeds and make the railway
more reliable and punctual for our customers.
“There is never a good time to carry out major work on such a busy route and after
careful discussion with the train operators and industry partners, it became apparent
that undertaking this vital investment in nine consecutive days in July would, overall,
cause less disruption.
“Train services are quieter at this time and fewer people are expected to experience
changes to their travel plans compared to the work being staggered over the next two
years, impacting on dozens of weekends and Bank Holidays.”
Usually, Network Rail would have carried out work of this kind over a number of Bank
Holiday weekends requiring train services to be replaced repeatedly by alternative
transport. By carrying out the work in a nine-day continuous spell this summer,
engineers expect to be able to complete the replacement of the four junctions around
16 months earlier and to avoid disrupting rail travel plans for many weekends and
bank holidays over the next two years.
MTB 24/05/13
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