Media centre

Friday 11 Jul 2008

‘£1 MILLION A MILE’ PROJECT COMPLETED ON TIME

Region & Route:

A four-week, £10.4 million Network Rail project to renew 10.5 miles of track between Hellifield and Clitheroe was successfully completed when the line reopened this week.

During the closure, the line was actually a hive of activity with Network Rail staff and contractors clocking up 25,000 man hours of work.

Some 126 engineering trains removed 57,000 tonnes of spoil before bringing in 50,000 tonnes of new ballast and 29,000 new concrete sleepers. The sleepers are used to hold 38,000 yards of new rail in place. At the same time, the track drainage system was renewed to help prevent flooding in the event of heavy rain in the future, and work was carried out to stabilise embankments and repair bridges over the line.

The work was done to remove a number of speed restrictions that were having an effect on train performance, and to bring the line up to modern standards with continuously welded rails replacing old jointed track.

The line is mainly used for freight trains but has strategic importance because it links the famous Settle – Carlisle route to the west coast via Blackburn and the East Lancs Line. As such, it is used to divert trains when work is taking place on the northern end of the west coast main line.

There will also be an increase in the number of trains using it when a new timetable comes into operation in December.

The link also allows Dalesrail summer passenger services and numerous charter and steam excursions to gain access to what is arguably the most scenic line in Britain.