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Tuesday 3 Nov 2026

Travel advice ahead of November rail upgrades over M65 motorway

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Motorists and rail users are being advised of upcoming work to upgrade track on a railway bridge over the M65 in East Lancashire.

The major £1.75m investment will see over 1,300 metres of railway renewed over the structure which carries the East Lancashire line between Rishton and Accrington.

The essential upgrade by Network Rail and its delivery partner Central Rail Systems Alliance will involve full railway closures on:

• Sunday 22 November
• Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November

Railway workers will work around the clock to replace sections of tracks, sleepers and ballast - the stone that supports the railway.

The modernised railway will provide smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers while reducing the amount of maintenance needed in future.

For the railway renewals to take place safely, trains between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road will not run during the work, with rail replacement buses keeping customers on the move.

People are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk if planning to travel over those weekends.

The final weekend of the project will also impact motorway traffic.

To keep drivers safe, the hard shoulder and lanes 1 & 2 on both carriageways of the M65 will also be closed from 21:00 on Friday 27 to 05:00 on Monday 30 November.

Drivers can check the latest road information and diversions at one.network.

Neil O'Toole, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: "We know there’s never an ideal time to close the railway but the scale and complexity of this track renewal on a bridge over the M65 motorway will see some travel impacts to both road and rail users.

“We thank people in advance for bearing with us during this major investment into the East Lancashire line to improve future journeys for rail passengers. I’d advise anyone planning rail journeys during the closures to check National Rail Enquiries in advance, and for motorists to allow extra time for their journeys on the M65 on the weekend of the 27-30 November.”

A spokesperson for Northern said:"We're advising customers travelling on the East Lancashire line to plan ahead while this important work takes place. The railway closure is necessary to allow Network Rail to carry out essential improvements safely, which will help provide a more reliable railway for the future.

"We're sorry for the disruption this will cause and encourage customers to check their journeys before travelling, allow extra time and familiarise themselves with any alternative travel arrangements."

For more information about how Network Rail maintains and upgrades the railway, you can visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/looking-after-the-railway/track/