WEST COAST MAIN LINE
Categories: Featured Articles
Major renewals at four junctions between Warrington and Preston will close the West Coast Main Line for nine days over July 13-21.
The work is expected to cost £18 million, and involves the replacement of Golborne, Bamfurlong, Springs Branch No 2 and Balshaw Lane Junctions, and relaying of three miles of track.
The junctions will be remodelled to ease future maintenance (by placing points further apart so that each line can be individually tamped). Diamond crossings will be removed, says Network Rail.
Route Managing Director Dyan Crowther said: “There is never a good time to carry out major work on such a busy route, and after careful discussion with the train operators and industry partners, it became apparent that undertaking this vital investment in nine consecutive days in July would, overall, cause less disruption.
Virgin Trains spokesman Jim Rowe told RAIL that Virgin would try to keep passengers on trains rather than buses, as much as possible. He said Wigan passengers would have to use buses to and from their station.
...read more in RAIL 722 on sale 15/05/13. Now available for your iPad!
