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Wednesday 5 Oct 2016

Weekend services resume between Preston and Bolton as railway upgrade in Chorley nears completion

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Weekend train services between Preston and Bolton will resume this Saturday after a series of closures to allow engineering work to take place in Chorley.

As part of Network Rail’s £1bn+ Northern Programmes investment, the route between Manchester and Preston is being upgraded to pave the way for better, more frequent electric trains from December 2017.

Over the past fifteen weekends Network Rail’s orange army has been working around the clock to rebuild Chorley station’s platforms, replace two subway roofs and lower the track beneath nearby road bridges. The work is required to make space for new overhead line equipment that will supply power to electric trains by the end of next year.

In addition to the work at Chorley station - over the course of the project - more than 10km of new rail has been installed between Preston and Bolton which will provide passengers with smoother and more reliable journeys.

To keep as many passengers on the move as possible, a temporary platform was installed in Chorley for passengers travelling towards Preston. This has allowed engineers to demolish and rebuild the old platform, making room for faster trains to run through the station when the line is electrified. A temporary deck has been installed above the southbound platform which means that it can be rebuilt in sections during the night when trains aren’t running.

Vitally, the work has been planned to keep train services running and the station open during the week. Work to finish the platforms at Chorley will continue during midweek night time shifts and is due to complete by December.

Noel Connolly, head of programme management at Network Rail, said: “The work required at Chorley station is vital to enable faster more frequent trains to run between Preston and Manchester and I am really proud of the work our engineers have delivered. When complete, the new platforms and new track alignment will allow electric trains to run through Chorley which will mean faster and more spacious trains for passengers.

“This work has been disruptive and I would like to personally thank passengers and local residents for their patience throughout the project.”

Sharon Keith, Regional Director for Northern, said: “This essential development at Chorley will enable our electric trains to operate between Manchester and Preston via Bolton – an exciting prospect for the future for many of our customers. We’re looking forward to transforming rail travel for this busy line of route in the North West.”

Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, said: “The work along the track has been essential for increasing capacity and for future train speeds but I do know that it has been difficult for residents, so I am grateful for Network Rail’s engagement with the community. The reintroduction of the trains on a Saturday will be very much welcomed by commuters.”

For the latest travel information on trains on this route visit www.nationalrail.co.uk