Easter upgrades between London and Scotland completed on time

The railway between London and Scotland via the West Midlands and north west has reopened after a number of upgrade projects by Network Rail over Easter were successfully completed on time.

The new bridge deck being installed at Albrighton station

This is part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan and the work over the Easter weekend included:

• Further progress to the Ordsall Chord development in Manchester
• Track renewal on the West Coast main line, through Northchurch Tunnel near Berkhamsted
• Progress to replace a railway bridge in Albrighton (still closed as part of an extended planned closure)
• Embankment improvements in Watford
• Removing an old ‘cattle creep’ (which historically allowed cows to walk under the railway) between Buxton and Stockport
• Track renewal on the West Coast main line between Preston and Carlisle.

The Ordsall Chord being prepared for track to be installed

“This work was part of our ongoing Railway Upgrade Plan which will provide customers with a better railway,” said Martin Frobisher, Route Managing Director at Network Rail. “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. I would like to thank passengers for their understanding while we completed these vital upgrades.”

The Railway Upgrade Plan aims to provide more capacity, relieve crowding and respond to the tremendous growth Britain’s railways continue to experience.