Network Rail has today (Monday 10 August) released drone footage which shows track replacement work being carried out at Guide Bridge in Greater Manchester last weekend (Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August).

The work, which included moving new track panels into place, was carried out during the first of two consecutive weekend railway closures, during which no trains are running between Manchester Piccadilly and Glossop / Hadfield and between Manchester Piccadilly and Rose Hill Marple.

Both of the railway routes reopened to passenger and freight services this morning, but they will both close again next weekend for 54 hours so that engineering workers can complete the work of replacing the track.

This coming weekend, on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, Network Rail engineering workers will weld the new rails together, and tampers will stabilise the new track foundations.

Rail replacement buses will be provided, and there will also be a minibus service operating between Godley and Hadfield, calling at all stations.

Network Rail is encouraging people to check the National Rail website in order to plan their journeys in advance.

Guide Bridge is the location of a Network Rail maintenance depot that opened earlier this year.

Train services between Glossop, Hadfield and Rose Hill Marple via Guide Bridge are among eight commuter lines due to be brought into the Greater Manchester Bee Network in the coming years..

“We’ve made great progress with our essential upgrades at Guide Bridge this weekend and worked around the clock to get the railway reopened today.

“I’d like to thank local people for their patience and support as we appreciate that this is noisy work. I’d also like to thank passengers whose journeys have been impacted. We’ll be back to finish the job next weekend, and I’d advise people to please plan ahead by using National Rail Enquiries and to allow extra time to make their journeys.”

Haider Saeed, Network Rail project manager