The railway line between Wigan and Bolton is set for a six-day closure, beginning this Saturday, to accommodate for upcoming electrification works.
This project comes as part of Network Rail’s £78m investment that will see the 6.5-mile stretch of railway upgraded to accommodate electric trains to serve local passengers. This route hosts two lines running in ither direction, which accumulates to 13 collective miles of track to enhance with overhead line equipment.
Preparatory works for such an installation of high-voltage electricity cables, will require key alterations to 17 structures along the route, one of which being Ladies Lane bridge in Hindley, which saw these works conducted in March.
The six days of closures will culminate on the 12th May, seeing bus replacement services available for passengers between Wigan North Western, Westhoughton, Daisy Hill, Ince and Lostock
Claire Davis, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said:
“We’ve reached the stage the railway needs to close in this important project which will one day enable cleaner, greener trains to run between Wigan and Bolton. While rail replacement buses will be in operation to keep passengers on the move, journeys will take longer, and I’d advise people to check National Rail Enquiries so they know exactly what to expect while travelling between 6 and 12 May.
“I’d also like to thank residents and businesses in Hindley for their continued patience and support while we carry out this major bridge upgrade, which will secure the town’s vital railway link for generations to come.”
As the UK strives to achieve overall net zero with its carbon usage and consumption, electrification projects such as this are vital to ensuring the long-term decarbonisation of public transport.
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