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Tuesday 15 May 2007

FREIGHT LINE SEES TRAINS AGAIN

Region & Route:

Freight trains are set to start running again on the Haydock branch line in Golborne (Greater Manchester) after an absence of four years. Although the line has never closed, Network Rail is concerned that local residents and dog walkers have got used to not having trains on the line, so it is warning them to stay away. Route Director Peter Strachan said: "Apart from the occasional test train, there has been nothing on the branch for four years and local residents may have thought the line was out of use. My concern is that they may well carry on as before, not realising that they could have a train carrying up to 2,000 tonnes of stone bearing down on them. The last thing we want is for somebody to get killed so we need to get the message across for them to stay away and keep safe." As well as putting themselves in danger, it is also an offence to trespass on the railway and is punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Network Rail is currently clearing overgrown vegetation and renewing fencing along the three quarters of a mile section of track, which branches off the west coast main line between Wigan and Warrington. Trains could be running again in the next couple of months, carrying stone and gravel from a quarry in Shap, Cumbria for Hanson Aggregates. Freight company EWS is expected to run two trains a week into the works, with between 15 and 20 wagons loaded with stone, which would then return empty to the quarry.