Behind-the-scenes footage has been released of a major railway junction being renewed in Warrington over the early May bank holiday weekend.
It comes as rail bosses thank passengers for their patience after the West Coast Main Line was closed between Crewe and Preston for the essential work to take place.
It saw two sets of switches and crossings – moving sections of railway which allow trains to change lines – taken out and replaced with brand new equipment at Dallam Junction on the West Coast Main Line just north of Warrington Bank Quay station.
The last time these hard-working track components were replaced was in 1986, meaning they’d clocked up close to 40 years of continuous service.
The upgraded track will mean more reliable and smoother journeys for passengers and freight in future.
Network Rail in partnership with the Central Rail Systems Alliance carried out the important improvements.
Impressive footage has been released of the scale and pace of the project, after the first train services returned to normal at full line speed of 90mph over the revamped junction.
Engineers will return to carry out near-identical work to the other two sets of switches and crossings in the same location between Saturday 24 and Tuesday 27 May.
That will once again see the railway closed between Crewe and Preston** with rail replacement buses keeping people on the move.
Further south a nine-day closure will be taking place on the Trent Valley Line between Stafford and Rugby from Saturday 24 May to Sunday 1 June
Image and video credit: Network Rail
