Trains have been running on the new Clifton Bridge in Cumbria after a £60m project to replace the bridge.

Footage has been released of the first services to use the bridge over the M6, and this can be viewed below.

Whilst the work was being completed, and in addition, more than 60 other smaller upgrades took place at other locations on the line.

Passengers are being advised to check before travelling today, though, as the southbound line has an issue with its overhead wire equipment. Network Rail says that they will fix this tonight when trains have finished running

With trains not running, Avanti West Coast ran a special diversion service via the Settle and Carlisle Line to keep passengers moving. You can see footage of this below:

“We have used this vital 14-day closure to make the biggest possible impact on the West Coast Main Line with multiple major upgrades now completed. As a result of the hard work of hundreds of our colleagues, both passengers and our freight operators will have a more reliable railway for generations to come.

“We have worked closely with National Highways and train operators to limit the disruption to road and rail users while the M6 bridge replacement has taken place. I’d like to thank them and local communities impacted by the diversionary routes and those close to our construction site while we carried out this project to secure the future of not one, but two nationally important transport links.”

Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail Capital Delivery director for the North West and Central region