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Monday 29 Dec 2025

48 hours to go... Passengers urged to plan ahead before major West Coast Main Line bridge replacement

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Rail passengers and motorists have been urged to plan their journeys ahead of a major railway bridge replacement which begins in just 48 hours.

Engineers have spent 12 months in Clifton, Cumbria, preparing the enormous steel structure of a new bridge, set to carry trains on the West Coast Main Line over the M6.

The previous Clifton bridge is nearly 60-years-old and weight restrictions mean it can only carry one train at a time, causing delays to services.

The new bridge, measuring 130m in length and weighing around 4,200 tonnes, will be installed by Network Rail and delivery partner Skanska above the motorway at Clifton close to Penrith during a two-week period at the beginning of 2026.

The removal of the previous bridge and installation of the new structure will begin on the evening of New Year's Eve. No trains will run on the West Coast Main Line from Oxenholme to Carlisle until the morning of 15 January.

The M6 will also be shut on two consecutive weekends, between: 

• 8pm on Friday 2 January and 5am on Monday 5 January 2026. 

• 8pm on Friday 9 January and 5am Monday 12 January 2026. 

During these periods, the motorway will close in both directions between junction 39 at Shap and junction 40 near Penrith. 

To make the most of the dual closure, more than 80 kilometres of overhead cables which power trains will also be replaced, and significant work will take place on an ongoing £61m digital upgrade to signalling systems north of Carlisle.

To carry out this work, parts of the West Coast Main Line in the North West will be closed from the 15 January 2026.

•  From 1-4 January 2026, the line will be closed through Preston, between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie.
• From 5-6 January 2026, the line through Preston will be open. The railway between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie, will remain closed for work.
• From 7-14 January 2026, the line north of Carlisle will be open. The railway between Oxenholme and Carlisle will be closed as the work to replace Clifton bridge continues until the early hours of 15 January.

William Brandon, Network Rail’s project manager, said:  

“This is a vital project which will improve journeys for passengers for decades to come. 

“While we close the railway to replace the M6 bridge we’ll also be renewing more than 80 kilometres of overhead lines and continuing our major modernisation of signalling systems. We appreciate passengers’ patience while this work is completed, and I would urge anyone planning to travel in this period to check National Rail Enquiries in advance.”

Steve Mason, programme delivery manager at National Highways, said: “This is an essential, once-in-a-lifetime Network Rail project to future-proof one of the most important railway routes in the country and it can’t be delivered safely without closing the motorway. At National Highways we are doing all we can to ensure the diversion routes run as smoothly as possible but with the minimum of disruption to local communities. 

“We are encouraging local people to find out more by visiting one of our drop-in sessions this month and carefully studying the leaflet arriving in thousands of local people’s letterboxes during the next fortnight.”

Chris Liptrot, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said: “While Network Rail carries out essential work to replace the bridge, we will operate an amended timetable. 

“Some journeys between the North West, Carlisle, and Scotland will involve changes onto a shuttle service as well as rail replacement buses. We strongly advise customers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling.” 

Rosario Barcena, Skanska’s rail programme director said: “We have made fantastic progress. The bridge has been built on schedule and our preparatory work for the removal of the current structure and installation of the new one is nearing completion. These planning works include a trial move of the new bridge using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) before Christmas. 

“This progress has come as a result of close working between all the partners involved including Network Rail, National Highways, our supply chain team and local community.” 

Over the Christmas period, Network Rail teams will be undertaking a major programme of upgrades to improve journeys for passengers on the West Coast Main Line. 

• Huge improvements planned across the West Coast Main Line this Christmas 

These include a £26m upgrade to a vital railway junction at Hanslope in Northamptonshire, a £16m investment into Preston station’s signalling system and a rolling £61m programme of signalling works at Kingmoor, North of Carlisle. 

These are all part of an ongoing investment of £196m by Network Rail into both the northern and southern sections of one of Britain’s busiest rail routes. 

Anyone travelling on the West Coast Main Line during this period should check www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest travel information.