The steel framework for a £60 million railway bridge near Penrith has been completed, marking a major milestone in one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades on the West Coast Main Line.
New aerial images reveal the scale of the structure, which measures 130 metres in length and weighs approximately 4,200 tonnes. The bridge will be installed by Network Rail teams over the M6 motorway at Clifton during a two-week programme in early 2026.
The new bridge replaces a concrete structure that has served for nearly 60 years but now imposes weight restrictions, limiting crossings to one train at a time and causing delays. Its removal and the installation of the new steel structure will take place between 1 and 14 January 2026, during which no trains will operate on the West Coast Main Line between Oxenholme and Carlisle.
To facilitate the work, the M6 will close in both directions on two consecutive weekends:
- 8pm Friday 2 January to 5am Monday 5 January
- 8pm Friday 9 January to 5am Monday 12 January
The closures will affect the stretch between junction 39 (Shap) and junction 40 (Penrith). Network Rail will use this opportunity to renew more than 80 kilometres of overhead power lines and advance a £61 million digital signalling upgrade north of Carlisle.
William Brandon, Network Rail’s project manager, said:
“This ambitious project will provide a vital upgrade to the West Coast Main Line and improve reliability and journey times for passengers.
While we close the railway to replace the M6 bridge we’ll also be renewing more than 80 kilometres of overhead lines and continuing our major modernisation of signalling systems. We appreciate passengers’ patience while this work is completed, and I would urge anyone planning to travel in this period to check National Rail Enquiries in advance.”
Steve Mason, programme delivery manager at National Highways, added:
“This is an essential, once-in-a-lifetime Network Rail project to future-proof one of the most important railway routes in the country and it can’t be delivered safely without closing the motorway. At National Highways we are doing all we can to ensure the diversion routes run as smoothly as possible but with the minimum of disruption to local communities.
We are encouraging local people to find out more by visiting one of our drop-in sessions this month and carefully studying the leaflet arriving in thousands of local people’s letterboxes during the next fortnight.”
Chris Liptrot, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said:
“While Network Rail carries out essential work to replace the bridge, we will operate an amended timetable.
Some journeys between the North West, Carlisle, and Scotland will involve changes onto a shuttle service as well as rail replacement buses. We strongly advise customers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling.”
Rosario Barcena, Skanska’s rail programme director, commented:
“We have made fantastic progress. The bridge has been built on schedule and our preparatory work for the removal of the current structure and installation of the new one is nearing completion. These planning works include a trial move of the new bridge using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) before Christmas.
This progress has come as a result of close working between all the partners involved including Network Rail, National Highways, our supply chain team and local community.”
Image credits: Network Rail
