East Lancashire Sunday trains cancelled for work on signals (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire Sunday trains cancelled for work on signals

10:37am Thursday 24th November 2011 in Brierfield By Catherine Pye, Reporter

RAIL passengers are facing weeks of disruption while repairs are carried out on a busy line through East Lancashire.

Sunday services on the Northern Rail service between Blackpool and Colne have been cancelled for the past two weeks, and disruptions will continue until December 4 while signalling maintenance is being carried out.

Officials at Northern Rail have also confirmed that the line will close on Saturday, November 26, while engineers tackle structural work at Church and Oswaldtwistle.

Keith Lumley, spokesman for Network Rail, apologised for the inconvenience, but said the work was essential.

He said: “This is ongoing, routine maintenance work to be carried out on the line as normal.”

Stations in East Lancashire affected include Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley, Barracks Station, Rose Grove, Hampton, Huncoat, Accrington, Church and Oswaldtwistle, Rishton, Blackburn, Mill Hill, Cherry Tree and Pleasington.

Derek Jennings, chairman of rail action group Selrap based in Colne, said some structural work was being carried out at weekends to repair a bride in Walton Lane, Nelson.

He said: “Although it is disruptive, there are a lot of people working to repair the bridge stood on the track bed, so closing the line is necessary.”

Details about disruptions and alternative methods of transport such as coaches and buses will be advertised on station posters and Northern Rail’s website, www.northernrail.org.