UK infrastructure operator Network Rail has reopened railway services between London and Scotland running through the West Midlands and the north-west region following the completion of upgrade works.
The work programme, which was carried out by Network Rail’s Team Orange, included track renewals and signalling upgrades to improve railway services on the line.
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It featured the installation of a new signalling on the Weaver-Wavertree project on Merseyside, the electrification of the railway line from Manchester to Preston via Bolton and deployment of modern signalling systems between Birmingham New Street and Coventry. It also included track renewal works in the Penrith area in order to enhance services.
Network Rail route managing director Martin Frobisher said: “This work was part of our ongoing Railway Upgrade Plan, which will provide customers with a better railway.
“There is never a good time to carry out work that affects services but we worked closely with the train operators for it to cause the least amount of disruption.”
The company has also completed two infrastructure works on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), on which the new InterCity Express Passenger (IEP) trains are scheduled to start operating later this year.
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By GlobalDataThe first project involved the completion of gauge clearance works aimed at ensuring that the new IEP trains will have adequate space to clear all lineside structures such as bridges and platforms, as well as other trains.
Under the second project, multiple electrical boosters were removed since being incompatible with the new trains.
It saw the removal of 35 overlap booster transformers from 12 locations situated within Finsbury Park in London to Berwick-Upon-Tweed in Northumberland.
