Rail passengers are being thanked by Network Rail following a nine-day closure while a historic viaduct in Calderdale was restored.

The £3.7m project makes sure the future of the Gauxholme Viaduct in Todmorden is safe.

Taylors Bridge near Todmorden station was also being reconstructed and needed the railway to close for nine days.

However, the 2nd November saw trains running between Blackburn and Manchester via Todmorden once again.

Kathryn Berry, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “We’ve made great progress while the railway has been closed for the two major projects in Todmorden. This can only be done with the support of local people and passengers, and I’d like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience while we give Gauxholme viaduct and Taylor’s bridge the care and attention they both need.

“This £3.7m Great North Rail Project investment not only secures this important piece of railway heritage but will also mean more reliable and smoother journeys for passengers in future.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The completion of the work is a landmark moment and I’d like to thank our customers for the patience they have shown during the engineering work.

“As a rail industry we are working together to improve the journey experience of passengers.”

Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley, said: “I am incredibly delighted that the railway has reopened on time as part of Network Rail’s work to restore the 1840s Grade II listed Gauxholme viaduct here in Todmorden.

“I am looking forward to seeing Gauxholme Viaduct restored to its former glory when the project is finished in the new year.”

Gauxholme Viaduct is being grit blasted to metal and structural repairs, deep cleaned and a repaint and both upgrades will be complete by January 2021, with no impact on passengers and trains.

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