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Monday 6 Apr 2026

Footage released of major North West railway upgrades this Easter

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Drone and trackside footage has been released showing multi-million-pound projects which took place over the Easter weekend to improve rail journeys across the North West.

Today (Monday 6 April) the West Coast Main Line between Preston and Oxenholme reopened to passengers after being closed on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April for some of the essential improvements.

The work included new structures and posts for modern LED signal lamps at Carnforth station and upgrades to overhead power lines in Lancashire.

These latest projects are part of the current £400m investment in the West Coast Main Line – Europe's busiest mixed-use railway which connects London with cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Elsewhere, drainage improvements also took place on the Great Rocks freight line in the Peak District to prevent a key tunnel used by freight trains from flooding.

Teams from Network Rail and its supply chain tackled tough conditions with gale force winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Dave this weekend.

The weather also caused problems on parts of the network where trains were still running, so rail passengers are being thanked for their patience during the disruption this weekend.

People are also being reminded of a further closure of the northern section of the West Coast Main Line next week for more overhead power line renewals between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde.

That will begin this Saturday 11 April and continue for eight days until Sunday 19 April.

Once again Network Rail and train operators have worked together to keep passengers on the move – trying to keep them on trains for the majority of their journeys where possible.

Avanti West Coast trains will divert trains on the iconic Settle & Carlisle line. Replacement buses and some limited train services will also run.

Passengers are urged to plan their journeys in advance by checking www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we’ve been carrying out these major railway upgrades to improve journeys in the North West this Easter.

“Despite Storm Dave we were able to use the extended bank holiday to get started with some really important projects as part of our significant upgrade plan to the West Coast Main Line. These will continue again for 8 days from next weekend where we’ll be renewing the overhead lines which provide power to trains between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde. Please plan ahead at National Rail Enquiries so you know exactly what to expect from your journey.”

Meanwhile, work is ongoing on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Milton Keynes. 

This has included £8.4m of essential track work taking place in Willesden; key work on a bridge in Ledburn just south of Leighton Buzzard worth £6.6m; and over £8m of investment on renewing overheard line equipment near Wembley, alongside the commencement of station upgrades at Harrow and Wealdstone and Apsley.

Passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line should also be aware of work happening in Scotland:

• 3-8 April and 11-20 April- Reliability improvements worth £3.5m will be completed on the West Coast Main Line in South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and further south. Journeys between Glasgow and London Euston will be affected during these dates.

To plan rail journeys in advance please use www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest travel information.