10.11.15
Full Farnworth Tunnel services to resume next month
Full services will resume through Farnworth Tunnel on 14 December after new tracks are brought in to use at the recently re-bored structure.
Works on the tunnel went from being ahead of schedule in August to being delayed until next month, after Network Rail stumbled upon “exceptionally poor ground conditions”.
But the Manchester-Bolton route will now be reopened for passenger services after a short weekend closure to bring the new electrified tracks into use.
The new section of railway will initially be limited by a speed restriction set to be removed after further work in the New Year, meaning the track will face additional closure in January.
Completing the tunnel will require specialist equipment, meaning Network Rail had to choose an appropriate date to finish leftover works. This two-stage solution was agreed to by the rail industry after considering all options.
But next month’s normal timetable will enable Northern Rail to restore its train service frequency and station calls, as well as providing longer trains.
Nick Spall, Network Rail’s route delivery director, said: “Farnworth Tunnel is an extremely complex engineering challenge being delivered as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. Breaking through to complete the tunnel was a key milestone for the project.
“There is more work to do before we can bring this new section of railway into use. This will require a short closure of the railway.
“We have worked closely with Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express to plan the work to cause the least amount of disruption to passengers.”
Works on the tunnel, which started in April, have seen more than 30,000 tonnes of material removed from the 270m route so it could be re-bored and enlarged to house two new electrified tracks.