Work on track to lift speed restrictions

10:54am Tuesday 22nd January 2008

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PASSENGERS' journeys are set to return to full speed after a period of rail engineering works.

Network Rail is to carry out work at a number of locations on the East Lancashire line this weekend to remove various temporary speed restrictions that have been delaying trains.

And as a result, passengers will instead have to take a bus laid on by Northern Rail for their journeys.

The speed restrictions were imposed to ensure trains could continue to run safely while engineers improved sections of track.

But it has led to late running and inconvenience for passengers.

At Blackburn, a Railtrack spokesman said the completion of the project would mean track speeds would be increased to 50mph, saving nearly one and a half minutes.

Bamber Bridge will see a 20mph restriction removed, bringing the train speed up to 50mph.

The final piece of work will be at Todmorden, saving nearly three quarters of a minute on journey times.

At the same time the tracks through the station level crossing will be renewed.

This will mean the closure of the crossing and road diversions will be put in place.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "As a consequence of all the work, train operator Northern will be replacing its normal services on the line on Sunday, January 27, with alternative road transport between the following stations: Blackpool North to Hebden Bridge, Blackpool South to Colne and Clitheroe to Bolton."

The maintenance work has been to improve the quality of the track along these stretches which meant the speeds were lowered while the work was going on.

Passengers can check their travel plans by calling National Rail enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or log on to the website below.