Better rail journeys through Staffordshire after £12.5m upgrades
Network Rail engineers carried out three weeks of upgrades between Stone, Stoke-on-Trent and Stockport
Rail passengers in Staffordshire are set for smoother and more reliable journeys after a major £12.5 million investment on the West Coast Main Line.
Network Rail engineers carried out three weeks of upgrades between Stone, Stoke-on-Trent and Stockport during a rare twenty-one day closure earlier this month.
With no trains running, hundreds of workers were able to replace track, renew points and carry out 'vital repairs' to bridges and viaducts.
Among the projects completed were structural improvements to the River Trent Viaduct, track renewal at Stone station, upgrades to three level crossings and ongoing refurbishment of Longport station’s footbridge.
Additional work included drainage improvements near Trentham and track renewals close to Hixon.
Trains returned to the route on Saturday 23 August.
Steve Hopkinson, operations director for Network Rail’s West Coast South route, said: “Our upgrades will help to future proof this important rail corridor, improve safety and help us to deliver better journeys.”
Jonny Wiseman from London Northwestern Railway added: “We are pleased that the Potteries line has now returned to a normal timetable following a suite of important improvements.”
Meanwhile, engineers also took advantage of the August bank holiday to upgrade drainage near Leighton Buzzard, tackling a section of line that has been prone to flooding.
Passengers are being reminded to plan ahead by checking timetables on the National Rail website.