Network Rail has announced that more than £1m is being invested in Upholland tunnel, located between Upholland and Orrell, as part of the Great North Rail Project.

Engineers will replace the track and the trackbed through the 172-year-old tunnel to make sure it continues to be reliable for passengers.

The work will mean that the line will be closed to trains over three weekends in March 2020.

A bus replacement service will be in operation for passengers between Kirkby and Wigan Wallgate over three consecutive Saturdays: Saturday 14 March, Saturday 21 March, and Saturday 28 March.

Hourly buses will operate locally between Wigan Wallgate and Kirkby, calling at all stations in between.

What did the officials say?

Rosie Cooper, MP for West Lancashire, said:

“Although unfortunately there will be some disruption to passengers for three Saturdays, I welcome the £1m investment by Network Rail ensuring the track through Upholland Tunnel remains safe and reliable for trains for decades to come.

“There will be replacement bus services for passengers while these works are ongoing.

“I would recommend that passengers wishing to travel on the Kirkby branch line in late March to check nationalrail.co.uk before they travel.”

Howerd Kernahan, project manager at Network Rail, said:

“We know there’s never a good time to close the railway and we apologise for the disruption this work will mean for passengers in West Lancashire.

“This vital work will mean fewer delays on the line from Wigan to Kirkby and make this Victorian-built structure fit for a 21st-century railway.

“We urge people to check before they travel these three Saturdays while this upgrade takes place as part of the Great North Rail Project.”

Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern, said:

“The weekend closures will cause some disruption for our passengers, but the long-term benefits are vitally important.

“The new track will future-proof Northern services and the journeys of our passengers and will enable more comfortable and reliable journeys for years to come.”

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