Major festive upgrades to improve railway network

of the UK relaxed over the festive period, Network Rail took the opportunity to once again use the reduction in passenger demand to carry out a host of infrastructure improvements across the country, with a number of significant upgrade projects completed. Traditionally no passenger services operate on Christmas Day and, with many people taking the time between Christmas and New Year as annual leave from work, it is seen as an ideal time for the infrastructure company to carry out some of their major projects without impacting as many train users as it would at other times in the year.

For the past two years, the coronavirus pandemic has also played its part in dampening down passenger demand for services – but that has not stopped Network Rail from carrying out an impressive array of works over Christmas 2021.

There were several major projects completed in and around the key rail hubs in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, along with many other projects throughout the country, all designed to bring improvements to journey times, safety, and efficiency. The table below highlights some of the more major works completed, although many other more minor works were also carried out.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We always work closely with Network Rail to make sure essential track and signalling improvements can take place when fewer people are travelling, and this Christmas and New Year was no exception.

“These upgrades are important to ensure we can continue to provide safe and reliable services and I’m grateful to our customers for the patience they have shown during this time. I’d like to thank the project teams for their hard work and dedication over the festive period.” The work carried out each Christmas is essential in allowing Network Rail to carry out major projects designed to both increase capacity and improve the layout of some key areas of the network.

Months of planning go into the festive engineering programme by Network Rail to ensure that major projects can be completed in the limited timescale available, while having the least possible impact on passengers and freight users who rely on the railway.

While most of us were enjoying spending time with our family and friends, or off work, thousands of rail engineers were working hard to improve our rail network and on behalf of all of us who rely on the railway, we thank them for their efforts.

Network Rail Major track and signalling remodelling, along with overhead line installation in and around Manchester Victoria, was carried out as part of Network Rail’s plans to upgrade the Transpennine route. Work is nearing completion in this view during the latter part of the shutdown and engineering possession.

Network Rail Network Rail RIGHT: In Leeds, more than 200 railway staff remodelled the track layout between platforms four and six, extended platform seven, and renewed more than 700 metres of track and overhead line equipment in what Network Rail has said was the biggest track upgrade at the station for 20 years. LEFT: In Stroud, the railway bridge over the canal at the Ocean in Stonehouse has been replaced on behalf of the Cotswold Canals Connected Project. Engineers replaced a culvert with a new open structure, which will allow boats to pass through for the first time since 1968.