Work has begun on Clifton Bridge in Cumbria and means that the West Coast Main Line has is now blocked.
Avanti West Coast has, however, begun diverting trains over the Settle and Carlisle Line.
The 07:54 Wigan to Carlisle service was the first intercity passenger service to use the line in over 10 years, with its scenery and heritage shining through.
The train operator is using its bi-mod Class 805 trains to run a shuttle service via the Settle and Carlisle line around every 2 hours.
Avanti West Coast is asking passengers to check before travelling, as some changes to services on routes that usually use Class 805s will be seen.
“We are running services on the Settle to Carlisle route to keep customers moving by train across the North West, and give them the best travelling experience possible.
“Today marks the conclusion of months of extensive planning alongside Network Rail and other operators, and I am delighted to see these services come into fruition to keep the North West open for rail travel during these planning engineering works.”
Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast
Responses
Must be the first time to see a Avanti West Coast Bi-mode train using the Carlisle-Settle line as part of the WCML is closed near Penrith because of bridge replacement works that the WCML passes over the M6 motorway.
It’s ironic that while a ~55yr old bridge on the West Coast mainline is having to be replaced because “it has reached the end of its life”, the diverted trains are travelling over 120+ yr old bridges (including Ribblehead viaduct) on the Carlisle-Settle line which are still fit for purpose with just routine maintenance.
The Victorians knew how to build things to last!
I caught one of the first class 805 EDMU’s on the division just after dawn as it passed through the Blackburn suburbs. It was running around 14 minutes late and as the day progressed delays appeared to being caused at bank Keyon the WCML.
Clearly now no excuse for Avanti not to restart using the Settle & Carlisle rather than loading everyone into replacement buses when the WCML is closed on other occasions for Engineering Work.
They have moved the class 805’s off other routes after months of planning and route learning, with the 14day blockade of the WCML Going forward having proved that running services can be done Thunderbird locomotives should be stabled at Preston and Carlisle with suitable couplings