Network Rail work over New Year to upgrade the Faringdon Curve track near Preston

Work to upgrade Preston rail tracks Pic: Network Rail

Upgrades have been made to rail tracks in and around Preston over the festive period.

Network rail have made the upgrades as park of an investment of £31.3 million in the North West and Central region, which runs from Euston and Marylebone in London, to Scotland via the West Midlands and North West to improve future journeys for passengers.

On New Years Day, 157m of track on the Farington Curve between Preston and Leyland, and 177m of track in the Euxton Balshaw Lane station area were upgraded.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day saw 540m of drainage through Farington be upgraded.

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A signal south of Preston station was also upgraded.

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “We’ve invested heavily in Lancashire’s railway over Christmas and New Year, with hundreds of metres of new track, drainage channels and signalling renewed to improve future journeys for both passengers and freight.

“We’ll continue our work during lockdown to get the railway in the North West in the best possible shape ready for when measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 can be eased.

“I want to assure those passengers still using the railway for essential journeys that they can travel in confidence. I’d also urge people to follow government guidelines and wear a facemask when travelling unless exempt for medical reasons.”

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