Media centre

Tuesday 28 May 2019

Major bank holiday railway upgrade work completed on the West Coast main line

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Train services on the West Coast main line between Euston and Carlisle resumed as normal today after major engineering work over the late May bank holiday weekend.

Sections of track on Europe’s busiest mixed-use (freight and passenger) railway line were replaced.

Overhead electric cables in several areas were upgraded, as well as vital improvements to bridges, tunnels and trackside equipment.

These must-do upgrades and repairs help keep thousands of passengers and products moving every day on a safe, reliable railway.

Martin Frobisher, managing director of Network Rail’s London North Western route, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out our vital Railway Upgrade Plan work over the late May bank holiday. Thousands of Network Rail staff worked around the clock so services could get back to normal this morning.

“Train companies and Network Rail have worked together to minimise disruption for customers by doing a lot of work over the recent bank holidays. The alternative would have been closing the line over multiple weekends throughout the summer.”

The work carried out between Saturday 25 May and Monday 27 May included:

• Removal of canopies on platforms 16/17 at Euston station
• Railway track replacement between Tring and Milton Keynes
• Track foundation improvements in Milton Keynes
• Bridge replacement at Garston in Liverpool
• Track renewal at Acton Bridge station in Northwich
• Improvements to overhead electric lines in Cumbria
• Track foundation cleaning in Carlisle

Passengers are also being advised of the next essential maintenance project on the West Coast main line as part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

The line will close for 16 days for vital engineering work in Warrington between 20 July and 4 August.

Network Rail will be upgrading track, cabling, overhead lines and signalling on the busy Acton Grange junction, which is used by more than 260 trains every day.

Acton Grange is a key section of the West Coast main line between Crewe and Preston.

While the £27 million Great North Rail Project scheme takes place, many train services will be diverted via alternative routes.

Train operators and Network Rail have agreed a plan to keep passengers moving throughout the work.

The plan may mean passengers have to change onto different trains or buses for sections of their journeys.

For more information on the work and its impact visit www.networkrail.co.uk/WCMLActonGrange