Passengers on the West Coast Main Line are being urged to plan ahead as upgrades get underway at Preston.

£1.5m is being invested by Network Rail to upgrade ballast and points. However, the complexity of the work means that the West Coast Main Line will have to close on the following days between Wigan North Western and Lancaster.

• Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 February
• Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February
• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March
• Sunday 12 March

This means no trains will serve Preston througout the closures.

Avanti West Coast passengers will be kept on the move with rail replacement buses that will run between Wigan and Lancaster via Preston. Meanwhile, for TransPennine Express passengers, a number of changes will be in place:

• 18th, 19th, 25 and 26th February
  • Manchester to Glasgow / Edinburgh services will terminate at Lancaster, with rail replacement buses taking passengers betwen Lancaster and Manchester Airport for Manchester Piccadilly and Preston
  • Liverpool – Glasgow services will be cancelled throughout
• 4th, 5th and 12th March
  • Manchester – Glasgow Central / Edinburgh services will run between Lancaster and Carlisle only
    • Rail replacement buses will operate between Manchester and Preston. At Carlisle, onward travel will be available via Avanti West Coast and ScotRail
  • Liverpool to Glasgow services will be cancelled throughout

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “I’d like to thank people in advance for their understanding ahead of our essential track improvements at Preston station. Once complete it will mean better, smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight on the West Coast main line.

“However, upgrading complex equipment like switches and crossings means we have no choice but to close sections of railway and stop trains running so engineers can quickly and safely carry out our work. I’d urge anyone wanting to travel over the four weekends concerned to check National Rail Enquiries and plan ahead, allow extra time to get to where you need to be, and be prepared for some of your journey to be by bus.”

Shirley Ross, Avanti West Coast’s station manager at Preston, said: “We’re working closely with Network Rail and our industry partners to minimise the disruption to customers on the weekends where engineering works are taking place. Our team at Preston will be on hand to help customers at the station. Those who do travel, should check in advance and allow extra time for their journey, especially those travelling to and from Scotland. Anyone travelling is advised to check www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk.”

Chris Nutton, major projects director for TransPennine Express, said: “Whilst the upgrade work takes place around Preston station, there will be a number of changes to TransPennine Express services between Manchester/Liverpool to Glasgow/Edinburgh. We strongly advise customers to plan ahead and to check the latest changes to our services before they travel on our website www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/changes-to-train-times. Updates will also be available on our social media channels.”

Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, said: “We welcome this investment in the rail infrastructure at Preston station. Getting people from where they are to where they want to be is what Northern is all about – and essential maintenance like this is an important part of protecting our operations for the future.”