Network Rail thanked passengers for their patience as the West Coast Main Line fully reopened yesterday (Thursday 15 January) with the completion of multiple journey improving projects carried out since the start of 2026. Train services are now running again along the northern half of Britain’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight route after 14 days of essential upgrades.
The biggest of all was the replacement of a 4,200-tonne, 130-metre-long bridge over the M6 just south of Penrith in Cumbria.
Footage has been released of the first services travelling over the new £60 million structure following its ambitious demolition and replacement in just a fortnight.
That saw an unprecedented closure of two of Britain’s busiest transport arteries – both the West Coast Main Line and M6 – for the huge feat of civil engineering to take place.
Over the first two weekends of the year, the motorway was completely closed between junctions 39 and 40 so Network Rail and its principal contractor Skanska could demolish then replace Clifton railway bridge.
Weekend 1: Impressive time-lapse released of railway bridge demolition over M6
Weekend 2: M6 opens half a day early after successful railway bridge installation
At certain points during the closure, a 115-mile stretch of the West Coast Main Line was free from train traffic.
That provided Network Rail teams with the perfect access to carry out dozens of other journey improving projects between Preston and the Scottish border.
The biggest schemes included:
- The completion of a £61 million modernisation of railway signalling in Carlisle.
- Nearly 70km of overhead lines which power trains replaced through Shap and Tebay.
- Installation of rockfall protection through Shap cutting.
- New signalling gantries and signals installed at Preston station.
More than 60 other smaller upgrades also made the most of this once-in-a-generation closure of the West Coast Main Line north.
Doing all the work at the same time both reduces future disruption for passengers and is more cost effective for the taxpayer.
During the upgrades, Network Rail and Avanti West Coast worked closely to keep customers on trains for as much of their journeys as possible by running a special shuttle service on the historic Settle to Carlisle line – the first time in a decade that diversionary route has been used.
Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail Capital Delivery director for the North West and Central region, said: “We have used this vital 14-day closure to make the biggest possible impact on the West Coast Main Line with multiple major upgrades now completed. As a result of the hard work of hundreds of our colleagues, both passengers and our freight operators will have a more reliable railway for generations to come.
“We have worked closely with National Highways and train operators to limit the disruption to road and rail users while the M6 bridge replacement has taken place. I’d like to thank them and local communities impacted by the diversionary routes and those close to our construction site while we carried out this project to secure the future of not one, but two nationally important transport links.”
Image credit: Network Rail
