Media centre

Monday 27 Nov 2017

Passengers and railway neighbours invited to find out more about railway revolution between Blackpool and Preston

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Residents living near the railway in Blackpool and passengers who travel between the seaside resort and Preston are being invited to find out more about the current phase of upgrade work.

The drop in sessions, which will take place throughout December and into spring next year, provide an opportunity to get the latest information and ask the project team any questions.  

The drop in events will take place on:

• Tuesday 5 December: 4pm – 7pm, at Poulton Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7PU
• Thursday 7 December: 2pm – 6pm, at Blackpool North station, Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AB
• Monday 11 December: 4pm – 7pm, at St Walburges Church Hall, Weston St, Preston PR2 2QE
• Wednesday 20 December: 4pm – 7pm, T Kirkham community Centre, Mill Street, Kirkham, PR4 2AN

Blackpool’s 19 week railway revolution to upgrade and electrify the line between Blackpool and Preston started on 11 November and is well under way. The upgrade equates to a £1,800 investment for every person living in Blackpool.

During the work, Network Rail will carry out vital upgrades to track and platforms at Blackpool North and Kirkham & Wesham stations. We are also upgrading the signalling system which includes installing 84 new modern signals which will help to make journeys more reliable.

Noel Connolly, head of programme management for Network Rail, said: “This work forms part of the Great North Rail Project and will deliver better, greener and more efficient services for passengers in the north.

"I appreciate that the work is disruptive and this drop in is a time to find out more and ask us any questions about the work and the benefits. I’d like to thank local residents for their patience while we carry this out and assure them we are taking all possible measures to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.”

During the 19 week closure, Northern is running a full replacement bus service to keep customers on the move.

The upgrade is a key strand of the multi-billion-pound Great North Rail Project, a railway industry team effort to transform train travel for customers across the north. The upgrade will make the railway bigger and better to cater for the increased volumes of people forecast to want to use it in future.

To find out more about this work please visit our website at www.networkrail.co.uk/blackpool. Any residents who cannot make the drop in and have any questions can call our 24 hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.