Preston-Blackpool blockade begins

A 19-week closure of the railway to enable electrification of the route between Preston and Blackpool North and South stations started on November 11.

The project involves remodelling Blackpool North, an additional platform at Kirkham & Wesham, and resignalling of the routes to Blackpool North and South which will result in the closure of five signal boxes at Salwick, Kirkham, Poulton, Blackpool North and Carleton.

The Blackpool South-Preston route will reopen between January 29 and March 25, but the route between Kirkham & Wesham and Blackpool North will remain closed until the latter date.

In total, nearly seven miles of track will be replaced and 1,000 overhead line electrification masts will be installed to support the catenary. Blackpool depot will also be remodelled and electrified.

Network Rail London North Western Route Managing Director Martin Frobisher said: “As Blackpool’s economy grows, the railway is growing too, and we are working with the wider industry and our Blackpool region partners to keep people on the move throughout. There is never a good time to carry out this type of work - but we have planned it to take place outside of the main holiday season so it causes the least impact.

“I am confident the short-term pain will be worth the long-term gain of transformed train travel in future.”

ROBERT FRANCE. At 0118 on November 11, the final train to leave Blackpool North before the route is electrified leaves the station. Formed of Northern 156469, 156488, 150118 and 150119, the empty coaching stock move leaves for Leyland sidings.

TERRY EYRES. Twelve hours after the final train had left Blackpool North and the possession had started, the semaphores had been removed and track had been lifted. On November 12, an engineer’s train stands in the Lancashire station, with the signals having been...