Media centre

Monday 6 Jan 2020

Furness line passengers to benefit from a more reliable railway in Arnside

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Passengers using the railway between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster will soon have more reliable journeys.

Half a million pounds is being invested to reinforce a steep railway embankment at Holmrock on the Furness Line to the south of the Kent Viaduct.

The Great North Rail Project work will see the strengthening of a slope and a new piled retaining wall to protect the track from future movement.

Tony Butler, route asset manager for earthworks at Network Rail, said: “This vital upgrade as part of the Great North Rail Project will keep important Northern passenger services running safe and reliably on this section of the Furness line.

“The first phase involves making the embankment shallower and the second involves keeping the track in place. The work has been designed to put passengers first as it will be carried out without closing the railway.”

Phase one of the work to stabilise the embankment starts today (Monday 6 January) and will last until the end of the month.

Phase two begins on 2 February and will last until March, with work taking place overnight at weekends while trains aren’t running.

While the improvements will not impact on rail services, passengers are reminded they can always plan their journeys by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk.