Media centre

Wednesday 20 Jan 2016

Chorley and Lostock residents invited to find out more about railway electrification between Manchester to Preston

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Network Rail is inviting its lineside neighbours and other members of the local community in Chorley and Lostock to drop-in events this week to find out more about the work required to electrify the line between Manchester and Preston via Bolton.

Part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan and the £1bn+ investment in the railway in north of England, electrification will help provide a better railway for passengers including more reliable, greener and quieter services.

Following the successful public information event in Chorley on Monday (18 January) two more events are scheduled this week where Network Rail staff will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have on the work taking place and how it will affect them. They will take place:

From 4pm – 7pm on Wednesday 20 January 2016; Lostock Parish Centre, Tempest Road, Lostock, BL6 4E.

From 4pm – 7pm on Friday 22 January 2016; Adlington Community Centre, Railway Road, Chorley PR6 9RF.

A spokesperson from Network Rail said: “We encourage our lineside neighbours to come along to one of these events to get a real understanding of the work we are doing and any impact it will have on them.

“We will have our project team there to answer any questions the public may have about the upcoming work and any impact it may have on them.

“This work forms part of more than £1 billion of investment across the north of England to improve journeys and enable faster, greener and more frequent train services to operate.”

Further sessions will be planned for areas south of Bolton in the coming months and local residents will be kept informed of the works via letter and through social media.

For further information contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 03457 114 141.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The work will involve two main elements:

1. Installing new equipment

Work has already taken place on the route modify bridges and tunnels. In early 2016 Network Rail will begin to install steel masts which support the overhead power line which are required for electric trains to run. The steel masts will be installed at regular intervals along the railway (at approximately 50 metre intervals) and each requires a concrete foundation to provide a stable base. Some of these foundations have already been installed.

When the steel masts are in place, overhead wires will be installed using specialist railway vehicles and equipment. The overhead wires provide the power to run electric trains and once installed will be switched on permanently at 25,000 volts.

2. Vegetation removal

It is necessary to remove and cut back vegetation to minimise the risk of it coming into contact with electrified structures and trains using the railway. This means we will be carrying out work that involves the removal of some trees, shrubbery and overhanging branches within the railway corridor.