Passengers facing more rail misery
NETWORK Rail bosses have confirmed the long overdue Manchester-BoltonPreston upgrade is on track for completion in November – but there will be more disruption in the meantime.
The route has been largely blamed for the timetable crisis that has wreaked havoc on the lives of Northern Rail and TransPennine passengers.
Although an end is now in sight, there will be more disruption before completion, with a nine-day closure of the line from Saturday, with all trains to be replaced by buses.
Engineers will also continue midweek overnight and weekend working until November 4.
Electrification promises quicker, greener trains. But the upgrade project has been beset by delay, with passengers suffering years of disruption.
The route electrification, among a number of delayed and shelved projects around Greater Manchester, was originally due for completion in December 2016, then December last year. That date then moved to May this year, but works were then postponed again to the end of 2018.
Network Rail said the original delay was caused by ‘lessons learned’ from the delayed TransPennine electrification, with the realisation that testing and delivery would take longer than expected.
They then scrapped original partners Balfour Beatty (originally also working on TransPennine) and opted for Carillion – which then went bust in January.
At the time, Network Rail insisted the Carillion works were not affecting progress, but later admitted the firm’s ‘poor performance’ had played a part, as had poor ground conditions and ‘project scope changes.’
This led to months of disruption and replacement buses – and was a major factor in the Northern Rail and TransPennine timetable crisis.
Northern says the knock-on delay in producing the timetable meant they had less time to prepare for new routes, which required driver training, leading to a driver shortage.
But Network Rail insists the last months of disruption will make way for ‘better, more reliable electric services’ as part of a multi-billion pound investment in the north.
Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s London and North Western route, said: “Our ManchesterPreston upgrade is part of the Great North Rail Project – the rail industry’s plan to transform train travel for customers across the north through track and train improvements.
“This short-term disruption is necessary to complete these vital upgrades and it’s important to remember the long-term improvements which will be delivered. In future, electric-powered, greener, faster, more frequent, more spacious, more reliable trains will become the norm through the Bolton corridor.”
The Manchester-Bolton-Preston upgrade covers more than 25 miles of track and infrastructure upgrades.
It has involved the widening and rebuilding of Farnworth Tunnel, remodelling of tracks and platforms through Chorley and Bolton stations, the renewal of 13,883 metres of track, replacement of 93 signals, and the laying of 236,000 metres of cables.