Media centre

Friday 17 Jan 2020

Passengers thanked for their patience during emergency West Coast main line repairs

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Passengers were thanked today for their patience and advised to check before they travel after emergency repairs to overhead lines on the West Coast main line.

Teams of specialist Network Rail engineers worked overnight to repair damage to the 25,000-volt cables at Hest Bank between Lancashire and Oxenholme.

The complex electrical work to the overhead lines which supply power to trains was completed by 7am today (Friday 17 January).

However, with trains and crews displaced for start of service, passengers are being advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk as services return to normal throughout the day.

During the disruption, Network Rail worked with the train operators to keep as many passengers moving as safely as possible along the West Coast main line.

Phil James, director for Network Rail’s North West route, said: "I want to say sorry to passengers for the disruption and discomfort they faced making their journeys yesterday. The damaged overhead lines made travelling by train very difficult at times and we thank passengers for their patience while we worked hard to get people moving again.

"Everything was done to get things back up and running as fast as we could, with dozens of staff out fixing the damage and repairing the railway throughout the night, ready for today.

"Trains are running again this morning but please, check before you travel for the latest information."

Passengers can check their journey with their train operator or at www.nationalrail.co.uk. 

For more information on our overhead line equipment and its installation go to www.networkrail.co.uk/overhead-line-equipment.

Watch the video below to see how we install OLE