Network Rail has issued a summary of the upgrade work it completed over the August bank holiday weekend.
The work took place between London Euston, the Midlands and the North West of England, and saw improvements to the railway infrastructure that will improve passenger and freight services on the West Coast main line, known as the Backbone of Britain.
Train services resumed today (Tuesday 29 August) after some sections of track had closed to enable engineers to carry out the improvement work could quickly and safely over the long weekend. The work cost £15m and took place across the whole of Network Rail's North West and Central region. It involved:
- upgrades to trackside drainage in Cheadle Hulme in Cheshire
- installation of new track in Macclesfield, Cheshire
- installation of new railway lines in Altrincham, also in Cheshire
- HS2 construction work between Birmingham and Derby
- installation of new West Coast main line track at Wolverton near Milton Keynes
- work above some of London Euston station's platforms.
Network Rail is also reminding passengers that two projects will start this weekend (Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September) which will impact journeys in the same region.
This Saturday, workers will start to connect a large new rail freight interchange to the West Coast main line. This will require a section of the railway to close for nine days between Milton Keynes and Northampton.
From Saturday 2 until Sunday 10 September, no direct services will run between North Wales and London. Journeys will take longer, diversionary routes, and some will involve rail replacement buses. Train timetables will be different.
On Sunday 3 September, workers will continue extensive upgrades to platforms 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly station. This will mean that buses will replace trains to and from Manchester Airport.
Train services around the country will be significantly reduced as workers take industrial action to demand better pay and job security.
While train operators advise passengers to travel only if necessary, those who do attempt to travel are advised to allow extra time for their journey, and to check before travelling at the national rail website or with their individual train operator.
Dave Penney, Network Rail's North West & Central region interim managing director, said: “Hundreds of frontline staff worked throughout the bank holiday to improve journeys for passengers and freight in the North West and Central region and I'm immensely proud of them and our contractors who helped Network Rail deliver this vital programme of upgrades.
“The £15m invested plays a huge part in our ongoing commitment to keep passenger and freight trains running reliably across our network. This will continue this weekend with more upgrades in Northampton and at Manchester Piccadilly stations which will mean changes to some journeys – so our advice as always is to use National Rail Enquiries to see how travel could be impacted.”
