Millions of rail passengers will face years of disruption due to a major programme of work on the West Coast Main Line.
The UK’s flagship rail route – which runs for around 400 miles connecting London with North of England and Scotland – will be shut for significant periods starting next year.
Network Rail says it needs to bring in digital signalling as well renew hundreds of miles of track and overhead lines, particularly in the north end of the line where the infrastructure was last modernised in the 1970s.
In a plan published last year, Rob McIntosh, managing director north, west and central at Network Rail, said this will support “improved reliability and the introduction of HS2 services over the longer term”.
Phase 2 of HS2 north of Birmingham was cancelled by Rishi Sunak in 2023.
Northern leaders and industry experts say the West Coast Main Line – one of the busiest rail corridors in Europe – is already at capacity and have been lobbying for an alternative rail link to replace HS2.
Network Rail said planning remains at a ‘very early stage’ and the delivery programme has not yet been agreedThe work currently being planned by Network Rail is not related, but industry sources told The Times it is expected the track will have to be closed for two weeks at at time during three blocks each year between 2026 and 2028.
This has not been confirmed by Network Rail which said planning remains at a “very early stage” and the delivery programme has not yet been agreed.
The bulk of the work focuses on the West Coast North section of the line which includes stations at Crewe, Warrington, Wigan, Preston, Oxenholme, Lancaster and Carlisle.
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Read MoreThe entire line carries around 35 million passengers per year and is used by operators including Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper, CrossCountry, Northern, ScotRail, Southern, TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales, and West Midlands Trains as well as numerous freight companies.
Chris Coleman, industry programme director for the north at Network Rail, said: “Trilink is an industry-wide programme bringing digital signalling to the West Coast Main Line, North, as well as renewing track and overhead line equipment that are reaching the end of their life.
“Disruptive access will be required to deliver this work, which we will consult and agree with the wider industry over the coming months.
“The programme is at a very early stage of development and work to refine the delivery programme and confirm the costs is under way.”
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