Parbold railway upgrade completes on Wigan to Southport route

Pictures have been released of a major project to upgrade railway lines between Wigan and Southport.

On Saturday 1 August the route reopened for passengers after a five-day closure for the £2m project in Parbold to improve future journeys.

Between Monday 27 and Friday 31 August, Network Rail and its contractor Central Rail Systems Alliance:

• Replaced 1,100 metres of ageing track

• Installed 750 new sleepers

• Re-used 600 existing sleepers to reduce cost and reduce carbon footprint  

• Laid 5,500 tonnes of new railway foundation stone (ballast)

• Enhanced the infrastructure to protect lines from future flooding as this is a known flooding site

The renewed railway means trains can run at full speed through this section, making journeys faster and more reliable for passengers.

It also protects the line from flooding, with tracks in this area becoming deluged in the past during heavy downpours.

Brian Paynter, Network Rail track, buildings and civils portfolio delivery director, said:“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out these important railway upgrades this week to improve future journeys between Wigan and Southport.

“Now our work in Parbold is complete it will mean smoother, more reliable journeys, and better protection from flooding which has been a problem in this area in recent years.”

For more information on how Network Rail maintains and upgrades the railway, you can visit:https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/railway-upgrade-plan/

Passengers are reminded to check to see if future journeys could be impacted by routine railway upgrades by visitingwww.nationalrail.co.uk.