Drone footage has been released following the first weekend of major track upgrades between Manchester and the Peak District.
Network Rail is investing £700,000 renewing a section of track at Guide Bridge which joins the Glossop line to Denton.
This weekend the old track was removed, new track foundation stone (ballast) was laid and new track panels lifted into position during a 54-hour railway closure.
Video released today (Monday 10 August) shows the scale of the work carried out on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August – the first of two consecutive weekend railway closures stopping all trains between Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop/Hadfield and Rose Hill Marple.
Both routes reopened this morning to passenger and freight services but will close again next weekend for engineers to complete the job over another 54-hour railway closure.
On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, teams will weld the new rails together where they join, for smoother passenger journeys, and machines called tampers will stabilise the new track foundations.
Rail replacement buses will once again be in place to keep passengers on the move*, with people advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan their journeys in advance.
Haider Saeed, Network Rail project manager, said: “We’ve made great progress with our essential upgrades at Guide Bridge this weekend and worked around the clock to get the railway reopened today.
“I’d like to thank local people for their patience and support as we appreciate that this is noisy work. I’d also like to thank passengers whose journeys have been impacted. We’ll be back to finish the job next weekend, and I’d advise people to please plan ahead by using National Rail Enquiries and to allow extra time to make their journeys.”
Image credit: Network Rail
