Work on a major railway bridge replacement is set to begin - leading to major travel disruption in Lancashire.
The removal of the Clifton bridge in Cumbria and installation of the new structure will commence on the evening of New Year's Eve.
The work means that no trains will run on the West Coast Main Line from Oxenholme to Carlisle, including through Preston and Lancaster, from then until the morning of January 15.
The M6 will also be shut on two consecutive weekends, in both directions between junction 39 at Shap and junction 40 near Penrith. between 8pm on Friday January 2 and 5am on Monday January 5, and from 8pm on Friday January 9 to 5am Monday January 12.
The new bridge is set to carry trains on the West Coast Main Line over the M6.
The previous Clifton bridge is nearly 60 years old and weight restrictions mean it can only carry one train at a time, causing delays to services.
The new bridge, measuring 130m in length and weighing around 4,200 tonnes, will be installed by Network Rail and delivery partner Skanska above the motorway at Clifton close to Penrith.
Network Rail said that to make the most of the dual closure, more than 80 kilometres of overhead cables which power trains will also be replaced, and significant work will take place on an ongoing £61m digital upgrade to signalling systems north of Carlisle.
West Coast Main Line closure details are as follows:
- From January 1-4 2026, the line will be closed through Preston, between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie.
- From January 5-6 2026, the line through Preston will be open. The railway between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie, will remain closed for work.
- From January 7-14 2026, the line north of Carlisle will be open. The railway between Oxenholme and Carlisle will be closed as the work to replace Clifton bridge continues until the early hours of January 15.
Preston Railway Station will be closed altogether from January 1-4 and rail replacement buses will run.
The area around the station is expected to be much busier than usual on these dates.
Anyone travelling on the West Coast Main Line during this period should check www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest travel information.
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