Closures planned in £27m Warrington track upgrade

The West Coast main line will close for 16 days this summer as Network Rail carries out upgrades to the Acton Grange junction in Warrington, a key section of track on the route between Crewe and Preston.

The works will run between 20 July and 4 August, and will see track, cabling, overhead lines, and signalling upgrades at the junction south of Warrington town centre.

Trains are likely to be diverted via alternative routes, or passengers will be required to change to other trains or buses for sections of their journeys.

Network Rail also warned services were likely to be “busier than usual” during the works.

This section of the West Coast main line helps connect Chester and Warrington to Manchester in the east and Wigan, Preston, the Lake District and Scotland to the West Midlands and London.

Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s London North Western route, said: “The West Coast main line is Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway. It is the economic backbone of Britain.

“With more than 260 trains using this junction every day, it is vital to keep it in good condition. We need to replace it and upgrade it to ensure a reliable railway for passengers for many years to come.

“To deliver work of this scale and magnitude, we must close the junction for 16 days this summer. The alternative would be many weekends of disruption to passengers and much higher cost.

Interested in the North’s biggest transport projects? Click here to book tickets to Place North West’s Northern Transport Summit, taking place on 16 May.

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