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Monday 16 Mar 2015

Easter rail upgrade is start of transformation of trans-Pennine route

Region & Route:

Rail passengers and local residents are being warned to plan ahead this Easter as work to electrify the railway between Manchester and York gets underway.

This Easter engineers will be starting to replace two bridges near Bolton Percy.  This seemingly routine work is the first of dozens of bridge replacements needed to enable electric trains to run on the route between York and Manchester for the first time. 

The work is part of a rail upgrade programme that will enable more and faster trains to run on the route, supporting the economies of the north whilst continuing to meet demand for travel on this busy route.  

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “This is a very exciting time for rail in Yorkshire.  As well as completing work to allow electric trains to run which can be faster and more environmentally friendly, we will be improving stations for passengers and installing new sections of track that will allow more services to operate. This Easter marks a key milestone in this upgrade plan as we start work on the ground.  I thank passengers for their patience during this disruption.”

Work begins on two bridges this month.  The bridge on Oxton Lane near Bolton carries the highway over the railway and Brumber Hill bridge carries a private farm access over the railway.   These bridges cross the lines between Leeds and York and between Leeds and Normanton. 

Buses will replace trains between Leeds and York all day on Sunday 5 April to 1000 on Monday 6 April.

Buses will replace Northern Rail trains between York – Church Fenton – Ulleskelf and Leeds all day on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 April.

Oxton Lane near Bolton Percy will be partially closed from 23 March to 3 July.  Diversions have been agreed with North Yorkshire County Council and road signage is in place.  A temporary footbridge will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross Oxton Lane throughout the closure.