Six-day railway closure from Saturday between Wigan and Bolton

Rail passengers are being advised of a six-day railway closure between Wigan and Bolton from this Saturday while work continues on the electrification of the line.

Network Rail is progressing with a £78m investment to upgrade the 6.5-mile stretch of railway* to enable electric trains to serve the key North West towns in the future.

In preparation for the installation of high-voltage overhead electricity cables, alterations need to be made to 17 railway structures along the route.

One of those is Ladies Lane bridge in Hindley, which needs to be taken down and a modern, more reliable structure rebuilt in its place.

Work began in March when the road was closed but has taken longer than expected due to issues aligning the railway work with utility companies.

Now a further six-day railway closure is needed for engineers to demolish the old structure above the tracks without trains running beneath.

To keep passengers on the move between Saturday 24 and Friday 30 June, replacement buses will run between Wigan, Westhoughton, Daisy Hill, Ince and Lostock**.

People planning rail travel between Wigan and Bolton between those dates are being advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk in advance and to allow extra time for their journeys.

Claire Davis, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “We’re sorry to passengers, residents and businesses in Hindley facing additional disruption due to challenges we’ve faced with the bridge demolition and reconstruction. We thank you for your continued patience and support while we carry out this major bridge upgrade, which will secure the town’s vital railway link for generations to come.

“While rail replacement buses will be in operation to keep passengers on the move, journeys will take longer and I’d advise people to check National Rail Enquiries so they know exactly what to expect while travelling between 24 and 30 June.

The road closure is also being extended until 1 September, with a diversion route in place for road users.