This weekend saw the completion of the £100m electrification of the railway line between Wigan and Bolton in Greater Manchester.
Completion was marked officially when the overhead power lines were authorised to be fully operational, and was accompanied by the unveiling overnight on Saturday, 26th July, of new train driver signage and barriers removed at stations where platforms have been extended.
In recent weeks, test trains have run as a prelude to the regulatory sign-off of the new infrastructure along the 6 line between the two towns.
Funding for the electrification was provided by the Department for Transport and delivered by Network Rail in partnership with its supply chain and train operating partners.
The project means cleaner and quieter trains running on electric power, whilst longer platforms will allow operators to run longer trains with more carriages.
The project started in 2022 and required:
- Erection of 414 new overhead line equipment stanchions.
- Installation of 21 kilometres of power lines.
- Complete reconstruction of six road bridges and one footbridge.
- Modifications to 17 bridges and two-level crossings.
- Upgrading signalling and track.
- Extending platforms at Hindley, Westhoughton, and Ince stations.
Electrification of the line, as well as an upgraded train maintenance facility at Springs Branch depot in Wigan, provides operators with greater operational flexibility and will also reduce the number of diesel trains running on the route to improve the environment for local people.
“It’s a very proud moment to see this newly electrified railway line enter into service after many years of hard work to modify bridges, level crossings and stations to make way for the overhead power lines. I’d like to thank our supply chain, local partners, train operators and lineside neighbours for their patience during construction. Now complete train services will be able to run in electric mode, providing quieter and more reliable journeys, whilst improving air quality for communities along the 6.5-mile route.”
Kathryn Berry, Network Rail scheme project manager
Responses
I would like to see more railway lines electrified especially the Glasgow South Western line from Barrhead to Kilmarnock and Dumfries.
And electrification from Leeds to York via Church Fenton and Hull and the Dudding Hill Line in North London that should also see electrification.
This electrification is of course welcome, but I note it has taken 3 years to complete just 6.5 miles. This compares very unfavourably with the ~6 years it took to do the whole Preston to Glasgow West Coast main line electrification in the 1970s.
Why do infrastructure projects take so long in Britain these days?