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Preston to Manchester rail line to close for nine days this summer

Posted on - 29th June, 2018 - 7:00am | Author - | Posted in - Preston News, Transport
A wiring train between Preston and Manchester Pic: Network Rail
A wiring train between Preston and Manchester Pic: Network Rail

Preston to Manchester is not a journey you will be able to do by train for nine days during the end of August.

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Network Rail has given an update on how the work on the Manchester-Bolton-Preston line is progressing.

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It has been blamed, by Northern rail, for delays to work on electrifying the line to allow more trains to run, as one of the factors contributing to the rail chaos across the North.

Engineers are continuing to do overnight working during the week and weekend working until Sunday 4 November with buses replacing trains in some cases.

A complete shutdown of the line from Preston to Manchester will run from 25 August to 2 September, taking in the Bank Holiday weekend. Buses will replace trains.

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Read more: What the Northern rail temporary timetable means for Preston

Managing director of the London and North Western route said: “Our Manchester-Preston upgrade is part of the Great North Rail Project, the rail industry’s team effort to transform train travel for customers across the North through track and train improvements.

“I’m sorry for the further short-term disruption that this work will cause, but please don’t lose sight of 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.

“We recognise the May timetable change resulted in poorer service for many customers than it should have done. We are working together with our train company partners to resolve current issues as soon as possible.”

Read more: Opinion on how the Great North Rail Project is a failure

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Work on the line had been due to be finished by May this year but was delayed.

Network Rail said ‘unforseen poor ground conditions’ were to blame, as well as the collapse of Carillion who were the lead contractor for the scheme.

The delays experienced by passengers across the North has lead to calls for Northern rail to have its franchise taken off it, and commuters to see compensation for the delays.

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