Network Rail is advising passengers that the railway will close between Wigan and Bolton for six days from this Saturday while it continues work on the electrification of the line.

Network Rail is spending £78m on upgrading the 6.5-mile stretch of railway, which has two lines running in either direction giving a total of thirteen miles of track. The route will eventually have overhead electric lines installed above to power cleaner, greener trains in future.

To prepare for the installation of high-voltage overhead electricity cables, alterations need to be made to seventeen railway structures along the route, including Ladies Lane bridge in Hindley, where work began in March when the road was closed.

Now a six-day railway closure is needed for engineers to work in safety on the tracks without trains running.

Between Saturday 6 and Friday 12 May, buses will replace trains between Wigan North Western, Westhoughton, Daisy Hill, Ince and Lostock.

Network Rail is advising people planning rail travel between Wigan and Bolton between those dates to check the national rail website in advance and to allow extra time for their journeys.

• The work at Hindley from 6-12 May will block the line completely for through services between Wigan and Manchester so buses will operate between Wigan to Bolton via Westhoughton and Wigan to Manchester via Atherton line (Ince, Hindley, Daisy Hill, Hagfold, Atherton, Walkden, Moorside, Swinton all affected stations.)
• While Ladies Lane bridge is closed, a diversion route is in place for road users. A temporary walkway will be provided to allow pedestrian access over the railway line. Cyclists must dismount to cross the temporary walkway. The route will need to close occasionally when cranes are used to lift heavy components of the new bridge structure.
• The work at Hindley from 6-12 May blocks the line completely for through services between Wigan and Manchester so buses will operate between Wigan to Bolton via Westhoughton and Wigan to Manchester via Atherton line (Ince, Hindley, Daisy Hill, Hagfold, Atherton, Walkden, Moorside, Swinton all affected stations.)
• While Ladies Lane bridge is closed a diversion route is in place for road users. A temporary walkway will be provided during the construction work to allow pedestrian access over the railway line. Cyclists must dismount to cross the temporary walkway. The route will on occasion need to close when cranes are being used to lift heavy components of the new bridge structure when it is being rebuilt.

More information on railway electrification is available here.

Claire Davis, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “We’ve reached the stage the railway needs to close in this important project which will one day enable cleaner, greener trains to run between Wigan and Bolton. While rail replacement buses will be in operation to keep passengers on the move, journeys will take longer and I’d advise people to check National Rail Enquiries so they know exactly what to expect while travelling between 6 and 12 May.

“I’d also like to thank residents and businesses in Hindley for their continued patience and support while we carry out this major bridge upgrade, which will secure the town’s vital railway link for generations to come.”