Drone and trackside footage has been released showing a series of multi‑million‑pound rail improvement projects carried out across the North West over the Easter weekend.
The West Coast Main Line between Preston and Oxenholme reopened to passengers on Monday (April 6) after being closed on Saturday and Sunday to allow essential engineering work to take place.
The projects included the installation of new structures and posts for modern LED signal lamps at Carnforth station, along with upgrades to overhead power lines in Lancashire.
The work forms part of a £400m investment programme on the West Coast Main Line — Europe’s busiest mixed‑use railway — which connects London with major cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Elsewhere on the network, drainage improvements were carried out on the Great Rocks freight line in the Peak District to help prevent flooding in a key tunnel used by freight trains.
Teams from Network Rail and its supply chain worked through challenging conditions, including gale‑force winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Dave over the weekend.
The adverse weather also caused disruption on other parts of the rail network where services continued to run, with passengers thanked for their patience.
Rail users are now being advised to plan ahead for a further closure of the northern section of the West Coast Main Line next week.
That closure will affect services between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde, beginning on Saturday, April 11, and continuing for eight days until Sunday, April 19, to allow further overhead power line renewals.
Network Rail and train operators say they are working together to keep passengers moving wherever possible, aiming to keep people on trains for the majority of their journeys.
During the closure, Avanti West Coast services will be diverted via the Settle and Carlisle line, with replacement buses and some limited train services also in operation.
Passengers are urged to check their journeys in advance via the National Rail website.
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Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail’s North West and Central region capital delivery director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we’ve been carrying out these major railway upgrades to improve journeys in the North West this Easter.
“Despite Storm Dave, we were able to make use of the extended bank holiday to get started on some really important projects as part of our significant upgrade programme on the West Coast Main Line.
“These works will continue again for eight days from next weekend, when we’ll be renewing the overhead lines that provide power to trains between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde. Please plan ahead at National Rail Enquiries so you know exactly what to expect from your journey.”
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