Rail disruption until 2018 on Preston - Blackpool line

Work to electrify the railway between Preston and Blackpool will begin today with passengers being urged to check before they travel.

The upgrade will provide better, more reliable journeys but will cause up to 20 months of disruption.

Passengers are being urged to plan their journeys and check before they travel as the work means changes to early morning and late evening services between Preston and Blackpool. These changes will be in place until May 2018.

In the mornings bus replacement services will be in operation until the 05.39 train from Blackpool (Tuesday - Friday).

In the evenings bus replacement services will be in operation after the 22.45 train from Blackpool and the 22.19 train service from Preston (Monday - Thursday).

• From Tuesday 4 October a rail replacement service from Blackpool North - Preston will be in place for the 05:21 Blackpool North - London Euston service every Tuesday - Friday until Friday, 9 December 2016. - The rail replacement service will depart from Blackpool North at 04:57, calling at Poulton-Le-Fylde and Kirkham & Wesham before arriving into Preston at 05:52. - The 06:00 service from Preston will arrive into London Euston at 08:34 - the same time as the direct Blackpool service is scheduled to arrive. - The 16:33 London Euston - Blackpool North service will operate as normal.

Alison Rowley, programme manager for Network Rail said: "There is never a good time to affect journeys but we have planned the work to affect the least amount of passengers for the shortest amount of time. This is essential work and I'd like to thank passengers in advance for their understanding. The upgrade and wider investment will result in a better and more reliable railway that will serve passengers for many decades to come and help boost the economy across the north of England."

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