Media centre

Monday 28 Nov 2005

WEEKEND WORK AT EUXTON TO IMPROVE TRAIN SERVICES

Region & Route:

Train services south of Preston will be affected on the weekend of 3 and 4 December as engineers carry out work to add an additional track at Euxton Junction in Chorley. The upgrade allows the separation of local and long distance services, and will increase the performance and reliability of trains in the area. Train operators Northern Rail, Virgin Trains and Trans Pennine Express will be putting alternative travel arrangements in place to keep passengers moving throughout the essential work. Trains between Manchester and Chorley will run normally with a replacement bus service in operation between Chorley and Preston. Passengers travelling from Preston to London will travel by bus from Preston to Crewe where they will pick up a connecting service.  This service is in addition to the replacement bus/coach service which is currently running from Preston to Carlisle. Tom McCarthy, Programme Director for Network Rail’s West Coast project, said: “We are working very closely with the train operators to ensure passengers can continue their journeys throughout this period. “We do however recognise that this work will cause some inconvenience but can assure passengers that in the long term they will be provided with a railway that promises a safer, faster and more reliable service.”