A major bridge replacement scheme on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) has been completed, with the installation of a new structure at Clifton near Penrith as part of wider upgrade works.
The work saw the Clifton railway bridge, which passes over the M6, replaced by Network Rail and its principal contractor Skanska as part of a £60 million investment to make the WCML fit for the future.
On Saturday 10 January, the new 130-metre-long structure was carefully manoeuvred into place with millimetre precision by Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) with more than 600 wheels to carry the load. The new bridge has a design life of 120 years.
Despite sub-zero temperatures and challenging weather conditions, work progressed so smoothly that the motorway reopened shortly before 4pm on Sunday 11 January – 13 hours ahead of schedule.
To allow the huge civil engineering project to take place, two unprecedented 60-hour closures of the whole motorway were scheduled between junctions 39 and 40 over consecutive weekends.
Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region capital delivery director, said:
“It’s a testament to the hard work of hundreds of people that we’ve been able to install this huge new structure both successfully and speedily. We’ve been in close contact with National Highways throughout so we could capitalise on that and get the M6 reopened over half a day ahead of schedule to alleviate pressure on local roads.
“I’d like to once again thank drivers for adhering to the road diversions, and also thank the local communities impacted by them this weekend, so we could carry out this vital work to secure journeys for both road and rail users in the future.”
With the bridge installation complete, railway teams got to work installing new track and reconnecting overhead power lines and signalling systems over the renewed structure. While that took place, the railway remained closed between Oxenholme and Carlisle until its full reopening. Train services re-commenced on the morning of 15 January.
The extended closure provided Network Rail teams with the opportunity to carry out dozens of other improvement projects between Preston and the Scottish border.
The biggest schemes included:
- Completion of a £61 million modernisation of railway signalling in Carlisle.
- Replacement of nearly 70km of overhead lines through Shap and Tebay.
- Installation of rockfall protection through Shap cutting.
- New signalling gantries and signals installed at Preston station.
More than 60 other smaller upgrades also made, making the most of this once-in-a-generation closure.
During the upgrades, Network Rail and Avanti West Coast worked closely to keep customers on trains for as much of their journeys as possible by running a shuttle service on the historic Settle to Carlisle line – the first time in a decade that diversionary route has been used.
“We have used this vital 14-day closure to make the biggest possible impact on the West Coast Main Line with multiple major upgrades now completed,” said Christian. “As a result of the hard work of hundreds of our colleagues, both passengers and our freight operators will have a more reliable railway for generations to come.”
Image credit: Network Rail
