Network Rail will continue with its major upgrade programme across the West Coast Main Line over the Bank Holiday weekend, it has confirmed.
Between 26 - 28 August £15m will be invested to upgrade some sections of the West Coast main line between Stafford and Manchester, and Milton Keynes and London.
Bank holidays remain crucial for Network Rail to carry out major upgrades. Workers plan to complete trackside drainage upgrades in Cheadle Hulme, in Cheshire and install new railway lines in Altrincham. The work follows the installation of signalling equipment and other upgrades that took place on the Trent Valley stretch earlier this month ahead of the planned Colwich Junction signalling system upgrade later this year.
HS2 are also taking advantage of the bank holiday weekend as they continue construction work between Birmingham and Derby including continued work on both Bromford Tunnel and Water Orton Viaducts.
Dave Penney, interim managing director of Network Rail’s North West and Central region, said: “We’ve made great progress improving the region’s railway on previous bank holidays in 2023, which means that during this coming bank holiday break any work we are doing is impacting fewer passengers.
“We are still investing £15m in the region’s railway though, which could see some journeys impacted over the last bank holiday weekend this summer. That’s why we're advising people to check National Rail Enquiries in advance of 26-28 August so they know exactly what to expect from their journey.”
Most rail routes across Network Rail’s North West and Central region will be open for passengers to travel around the country this August bank holiday weekend (26-28 August), but some journeys may be affected by essential railway upgrades.
Network Rail will also install new main line track at Wolverton, just outside Milton Keynes. This will follow on from work completed on the line last year, which included 628 metres of track and also replacing sleepers and rails.
Photo Credit: iStock
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