14.12.15
Rail services resume through Farnworth Tunnel
Full services have resumed through Farnworth Tunnel today (14 December) after Network Rail engineers worked round the clock to connect new tracks through the re-bored tunnel over the weekend.
The upgrade work at Farnworth, the disruption from which meant far fewer services could run between Bolton and Manchester for the past eight months, has been carried out to accommodate two electrified lines once electrification of the line from Manchester to Preston is complete.
Works to re-bore the tunnel went from being ahead of schedule in August to being delayed until this month, after Network Rail stumbled upon “exceptionally poor ground conditions”.
During the past eight months, Network Rail kept one of the 270m-long tunnels open to passenger services, while the other – just 1.5m away – was completely rebuilt using the UK’s biggest tunnel boring machine.
While trains have been running in both directions on a single line, services have been less frequent. But from today Northern Rail will return to a normal timetable.
As well as rebuilding the tunnel, Network Rail engineers demolished and rebuilt Farnworth and Moses Gate stations in line with the new tracks. And more than 1,600m of track has been lowered to support an increase in line speed.
Nick Spall, route delivery director at Network Rail, said: “Over the weekend our engineers worked round the clock to connect the new tracks through the tunnel, and I’m delighted that we have been able to restore the full timetable for passengers on this key route.
“I would like to thank passengers and the local community for their patience whilst we have carried out this work, which will bring real benefits in the future.”
The weekend closure of the route on 12-13 December has seen the new tracks brought into use, but there will initially be a speed restriction on this new section of railway. This will be removed after further work in the new year, which will require an additional closure of the railway. Full details will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Alex Hynes, managing director for Northern Rail, said: “With services now returning through the newly developed Farnworth Tunnel, we have the opportunity to not only provide extra seats to our customers travelling through Bolton but to also start planning for an exciting new phase of electrification in the north west. Our customers have been amazingly patient throughout this complex and challenging project.”