The electrification of a railway line between Liverpool and Manchester is on course to be completed by 2014, heralding the advent of a 30-minute trip for passengers.
Work on the Chat Moss section, which carries the Manchester Victoria to Edge Hill route, is currently under way as part of a £300 million operation across the North West.
The Manchester to Newton-le-Willows section of the line is expected to be completed by 2013, with work continuing towards Liverpool to be finished by 2014.
Keith Lumley of Network Rail said: “The work is split into a number of contracts. J Murphy & Son Ltd got the contract to rebuild three bridges over the railway in the Eccles area. Babcock Rail got the contract to carry out track work. Both these pieces of work have now been completed.
“We are now going through the process to let contracts for further packages of work which will cover alterations to the signalling system on the line and the erection of the overhead power lines. Physical work is expected to start by next spring or early summer 2012.”
The project is intended to slash journey times from Lime Street to Manchester from 54 to 30 minutes.
Electrifying key railway routes will also improve services for thousands of passengers and help support economic growth across many of the towns and cities across the region.
It will mean faster and quieter journeys with more seats on trains and improved reliability on some of the busiest routes.
The process will also allow diesel trains to be replaced by much cleaner and quieter electric trains, helping improve air quality in pollution hot spots such as city centres.
Network Rail’s route director Jo Kaye said: “Electrification presents a huge opportunity and is vital for Britain’s long-term, low-carbon economic growth.
“The opening of Albert Street bridge marks the first major step in a programme of work that will improve rail links across the north west, better connecting our towns and cities.”
Network Rail’s programme sponsor for north west electrification David Golding added: “Electrification presents a huge opportunity and is vital for Britain’s long-term, low-carbon economic growth.
“Electrifying key rail routes will deliver more reliable journeys for thousands of passengers with much needed additional capacity. We are keen to share our plans with the public and look forward to hearing their views.”
As part of the wider North West operation, other phases of work will see the electrification of the line between Huyton Junction and Wigan completed by Dec 2012.
Electrification of the line from Preston to Blackpool is set to be finished by 2015 and the Manchester to Euxton section is to be completed by December 2016.
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