The East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has been granted a new licence that permits mainline operators to test vehicles on its tracks at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (96.5km per hour).

The safety certificate from the Office of Rail and Road replaces the previous limit of 25 miles per hour on the heritage network, and makes the East Lancashire Railway one of the few railways in Britain whose own infrastructure has been passed for operations at this speed.

The licence applies to the section of line that  runs between Heywood, Bury and Summerseat, while the remainder of the route remains at 25 miles per hour. It is valid until January 2028 and also permits filming at 60 miles per hour.

The resulting commercial opportunities from operators and contractors is likely to provide a welcome boost to the railway’s finances.

During lockdown, the railway was used to commission a new fleet of Linsinger Milling Machines. Next year, Network Rail is planning to use the network for the testing of new stoneblowers.

East Lancashire Railways’ Head of Operations, Jeff Armstrong, said: “This new non-mainline certification from the Office of Rail and Road marks a significant expansion in our testing capacity.

We have a long tradition of welcoming operators and contractors to the network, but this new licence now eliminates any need to request temporary dispensations – making the entire process of testing equipment more streamlined and straightforward for all”.

Chairman Mike Kelly added: “We are all rightfully proud of the important role the ELR plays in helping rail operators meet the highest standards of operational safety.

“Securing this new Safety Certificate has been a real team effort and I’d like to salute the dedication and hard-work of everyone from the railway who has been involved in this project.

“As a registered charity, it is vital we continue to develop new revenue streams, and we look forward to becoming an even greater partner for mainline operators and contractors.”