Phase 3 | Preston to Blackpool Electrification Upgrade
The 17 mile route, which runs through Salwick, Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton-le-Fylde and Layton, will undergo upgrade works, enabling the line to become electrified; paving the way for improved and more reliable train journeys.
As part of the project, VolkerRail, working with Atkins, J. Murphy & Sons Limited and Siemens:
The teams will also complete platform extension work at Blackpool North station as well as the construction of a third platform and step free access at Kirkham & Wesham station.
This project forms part of Network Rail’s Great North Rail Project (GNRP) which will see improvements to the network across the north of England. The GNRP will enable hundreds more trains to run each day: more trains with more seats, running more quickly and more reliably. -VolkerRail
As part of the project, VolkerRail, working with Atkins, J. Murphy & Sons Limited and Siemens:
- Remove and replace over 11km of track
- Install over 1,100 overhead line structures
- Install over 200km of overhead line cable
- Install three footbridges
The teams will also complete platform extension work at Blackpool North station as well as the construction of a third platform and step free access at Kirkham & Wesham station.
This project forms part of Network Rail’s Great North Rail Project (GNRP) which will see improvements to the network across the north of England. The GNRP will enable hundreds more trains to run each day: more trains with more seats, running more quickly and more reliably. -VolkerRail
Drone Photographic Footage
Phase 4 | Bolton Corridor Electrification Upgrade
Manchester to Preston railway line - electrification upgrade. This line goes via Bolton Station hence the name ’the Bolton corridor’. By the term electrification is when a section of railway is converted from just being able to run diesel trains to the more efficient and greener electric trains by getting the power from an over head wire - a system first adopted on a section on railway at Wath to Penistone in 1952.
Ducie St Bridge - Manchester
Three Manchester railway bridges which have been restored to their Victorian splendour have been officially unveiled, as part of the Great North Rail Project. The Grade II listed, 175-year-old bridges were painstakingly restored to ensure busy passenger and freight services can run reliably through Manchester Victoria station for decades to come. A plaque was unveiled in Great Ducie Street last Friday (25 October) to commemorate the £3.2m Great North Rail Project work by Network Rail, in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust. - NR
Garston Rd Bridge - Liverpool
Church Road in Garston has been closed to pedestrians and traffic since March for the Great North Rail Project upgrade. Structural defects found in the old bridge meant it had to be entirely rebuilt to modern standards.
Now the Network Rail upgrade is complete it will provide a safe and reliable crossing over Church Road for freight trains for decades to come. Officially reopening the road and bridge today was MP for Garston and Halewood Maria Eagle.
Now the Network Rail upgrade is complete it will provide a safe and reliable crossing over Church Road for freight trains for decades to come. Officially reopening the road and bridge today was MP for Garston and Halewood Maria Eagle.
Highbury Road St Annes - on - Sea
After many months of hard work and battles with the weather, Hightbury Rd Bridge in St Annes - Lancashire is now officially open. Highbury Rd Bridge was constructed around the 1930's after the previous Gilletts Farm Crossing Halt or Gilletts Crossing St Annes became unsuitable for the level of rail traffic boosted by a connection from Lytham to Kirkham a few years before.
The bridge is located North Of St Annes - on Sea on Highbury Road, Lancashire. It crosses the South Fylde Line to Blackpool South Station from Kirkham & Wesham Station joining the electrified line to and from Blackpool North going West and Preston going East. Work to replace Highbury Road bridge, as part of the Great North Rail Project, began in January 2019 when the main reconstruction started - meaning the railway between Kirkham & Wesham and Blackpool South was closed for two weekends in March. Improvements made the bridge safer, more reliable and in need of less maintenance in future. The bridge was completed in March 2019.
The bridge is located North Of St Annes - on Sea on Highbury Road, Lancashire. It crosses the South Fylde Line to Blackpool South Station from Kirkham & Wesham Station joining the electrified line to and from Blackpool North going West and Preston going East. Work to replace Highbury Road bridge, as part of the Great North Rail Project, began in January 2019 when the main reconstruction started - meaning the railway between Kirkham & Wesham and Blackpool South was closed for two weekends in March. Improvements made the bridge safer, more reliable and in need of less maintenance in future. The bridge was completed in March 2019.
