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Thursday 23 Sep 2021

Abnormal load - video shows railway bridges driving through town centre

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Impressive time-lapse video has been released showing railway bridges driving through the streets of Warrington as part of major work to improve journeys for rail passengers and freight.

The multi-angle footage shows the former Bewsey Street bridge being removed at Warrington Central station and driven through the town’s streets over the August bank holiday weekend.

Then its replacement is slowly manoeuvred into place on the back of a huge transporter vehicle. 

That project was one of five major railway bridge overhauls by Network Rail this year to improve passenger and freight journeys, including:

• South Lane bridge being replaced over 11-12 September
• Two bridge decks being replaced at Warrington Bank Quay station at Easter
• Bewsey Street and Foundry Street bridges being replaced over the August bank holiday

All five bridge projects mean a total investment of £11.35m by the Great North Rail Project in Warrington in 2021.

Chris Pye, Network Rail’s infrastructure director for the North West, said: “I’m hugely proud of the hundreds of planners and engineers who’ve worked tirelessly this year to improve Warrington’s railway for the future.

“This significant Great North Rail Project investment means more reliable journeys for passengers and freight across the North West for many decades to come. It’s also proof of the rail industry’s commitment to build back better from the pandemic as more people return to rail to get to where they need to be.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The Great North Rail Project is making a huge difference for Northern customers and is delivering improved infrastructure that will provide better journeys for many years to come.

“Our customers are at heart of everything we do and the improvements in Warrington, alongside our own enhancements to trains and stations will have a big impact for our customers using the Northern network.”

To read more about the Easter work in Warrington click this link:

• Read again: Time-lapse shows Warrington Bank Quay Easter bridge lifts

To see how Network Rail looks after structures like bridges, tunnels and viaducts you can visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/