Work restarts on Manchester to Preston line electrification
Network Rail has held a number of ‘drop-in events’ with communities along the Bolton-Preston line, to explain what is happening ahead of significant electrification work that was due to start in January.
Further such events are planned between Manchester and Bolton in the coming weeks, with the company revealing: “In early 2016 Network Rail will begin to install steel masts which support the overhead power line required for electric trains to run. The steel masts will be installed at regular intervals along the railway (at approximately 50-metre intervals) and each requires a concrete foundation to provide a stable base. Some of these foundations have already been installed.”
Those foundations were installed over six months ago ( RAIL 786), since when there has been a hiatus - firstly while Network Rail found a new prime contractor, and then while the Hendy Review was compiled and published.
Network Rail added on January 20 that it “will be carrying out work that involves the removal of some trees, shrubbery and overhanging branches within the railway corridor”, work that cannot practically be done during the bird nesting season.
The work forms Phase 4 of the North West Electrification Programme, which was to have been completed so that electric trains could use the route from December 11 2016.
As to when residents will see an electric train, the North West Sparks website ventures:
Phase 3: Preston-Blackpool North - opening date was March 2017 but will now be 2019.
Phase 4: Manchester-Preston - was December 2016, will be December 2017.
Phase 5: Manchester Victoria-Stalybridge - was 2017, will be 2019.
Phase 5: Manchester Victoria-Ashburys - was 2017, will be Control Period 6 (2019-2024).
Phase 5: Guide Bridge-Stalybridge - was 2019, will be CP6.
Phase 6: Bolton-Wigan - was December 2017, will be CP6.
Phase 7: Oxenholme-Windermere - was December 2017, will be CP6. Huyton-Roby Fourth Track - was February 2016, will be 2019.
Huyton-Roby provides extra track capacity to allow additional services to run east of Liverpool Lime Street.