Network Rail has announced that staff are continuing to keep supplies and passengers moving during the pandemic.

Over the last week, maintenance teams and signallers delivered essential maintenance on the railway.

This includes work between London and the Scottish border through the Chilterns, the West Midlands, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and Cumbria.

The work to protect essential passenger journeys and freight supplies included:

• Renewing rails, sleepers and ballast (railway foundation stone) on the West Coast main line south of Lancaster
• Repairing overhead electric wires in Primrose Hill tunnel, improving the reliability of key passenger and freight services on the approach to London Euston
• Replacing vital components of overhead electric wires on the West Coast main line south of Warrington to improve the power supply
• Repairs to a railway bridge in the West Midlands after it was hit by a vehicle

Network Rail is making sure that its workers are being kept safe from the spread of the virus while being able to maintain and run the nation’s vitally important railway routes.

What did the officials say?

Tim Shoveller, managing director for Network Rail’s North West and Central region, said:

“During this difficult time for Britain, our focus is on keeping the railway open for critical supplies – including food, fuel and medicine – and people who cannot work from home, including NHS medics and emergency services. Last weekend we continued with essential maintenance work from Primrose Hill to Warrington. I am very proud of how our frontline colleagues are safely rising to this challenge.”

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