Network Rail has released new drone and trackside footage showing the scale of engineering works delivered across the North West over the Easter weekend, as part of ongoing investment in the West Coast Main Line.
The route between Preston and Oxenholme reopened to passengers on Monday 6 April, following a two-day closure to allow essential upgrades to be carried out.
Works included the installation of new structures and posts for modern LED signalling at Carnforth station, alongside upgrades to overhead power lines in Lancashire.
The projects form part of a wider £400 million programme of improvements on the West Coast Main Line, one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use railways linking London with major cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Elsewhere, drainage improvements were completed on the Great Rocks freight line in the Peak District to reduce the risk of flooding in a key freight tunnel.
Engineering teams from Network Rail and its supply chain worked through challenging conditions over the bank holiday weekend, with gale-force winds and heavy rain caused by Storm Dave impacting both worksites and operational services.
Passengers have been thanked for their patience during the disruption, with further closures already scheduled as part of the ongoing upgrade programme.
A second phase of works will begin on Saturday 11 April, with an eight-day closure of the northern section of the West Coast Main Line between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde for further overhead line renewals, running until Sunday 19 April.
During this period, Avanti West Coast services will be diverted via the Settle and Carlisle line, with replacement bus services and limited train operations also in place.
Christian Irwin, Capital Delivery Director for Network Rail’s North West and Central region, said:
“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we’ve been carrying out these major railway upgrades to improve journeys in the North West this Easter.
“Despite Storm Dave we were able to use the extended bank holiday to get started with some really important projects as part of our significant upgrade plan to the West Coast Main Line. These will continue again for eight days from next weekend where we’ll be renewing the overhead lines which provide power to trains between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde.”
Further works are also underway on the southern section of the route between London Euston and Milton Keynes, including £8.4 million of track renewals at Willesden, £6.6 million of bridge works near Leighton Buzzard and more than £8 million of overhead line upgrades near Wembley. Station improvements are also progressing at Harrow & Wealdstone and Apsley.
In Scotland, additional reliability works valued at £3.5 million are taking place between 3–8 April and 11–20 April across parts of South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway, affecting services between Glasgow and London.
Passengers are advised to check their journeys in advance via National Rail Enquiries as work continues across the network.
