Work starts on North West Electrification Project

VolkerRail and Network Rail has begun upgrading the railway between Preston and Blackpool as part of the £1 billion Great North Rail Project.

The 17-mile route will undergo works to lower the current track in preparation for the installation of overhead line structures and wiring, enabling the line to become electrified; paving the way for improved and more reliable train journeys. This first phase of work is expected to be completed in May.

As part of the project, VolkerRail, working with Atkins, J. Murphy & Sons Limited and Siemens, will:

• 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 team are fully focused on the safe delivery of the works within the challenging timescales, which includes a 19-week blockade,” VolkerRail’s Project Director, Jim Goldsby said. “Successful delivery of a project of this magnitude and complexity is only achieved by working with Network Rail and our partners within a collaborative environment.”

This 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 with more seats to run each day.

“This contract is a significant milestone for the delivery of our Great North Rail Project which will help to improve journeys for passengers travelling between Preston and Blackpool,” Noel Connolly, Network Rail’s Head of Programme Management, added. “We are working closely with contractors, local train operators and other key stakeholders to deliver in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible while minimising disruption for both lineside communities and passengers.”

The Great North Rail Project, part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan, will have delivered more than £1 billion of improvements for customers across the north of England by 2022.