Better rail journeys arriving in 2018 The Great North Rail Project between Preston and Blackpool 5 January 2018

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1 Better rail journeys arriving in 2018 The Great North Rail Project between Preston and Blackpool 5 January 2018 Historic milestone means Lancashire passengers are a step closer to a better railway The railway between Preston and Blackpool has been connected to the West Coast Main Line by overhead electric wires for the first time in its history. Photo: Specialist rail-mounted vehicles used by engineers to install new wiring. The milestone was completed over the Christmas period as work continued to upgrade the railway as part of the Great North Rail Project.

2 Photo: Tandem mobile elevated work platforms at work. Team Orange worked round-the-clock on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to install 2km of new wiring and electrical equipment that will enable greener, quieter and more reliable trains to travel to Blackpool in Read more. Christmas 2017: new benefits for rail passengers as 260 projects, worth over 160m, finish on time Over the festive period more than 260 projects, valued at over 160m, were delivered across Britain. Thousands of new services and trains will soon start to come into operation this year as a result of this Christmas investment programme bringing faster journeys, more comfort and greater reliability to the 4.5m passengers who typically use the rail network daily. In addition to our transformation of Blackpool s railway, elsewhere on the West Coast Main Line, work was carried out from London to Lancaster as tracks were renewed, signals were upgraded and bridges refurbished over Christmas Day, Boxing Day and into the New Year. Read more. Rapid track installation at Blackpool North Significant progress has been made in Blackpool to reinstate tracks into the newly reconstructed platforms. The railway has been realigned into Blackpool North station as part of our plans to enable more reliable train journeys.

3 Photo: A triple wacker is used to compact the new railway formation. A new track bed was installed in December ready to install the sleepers and rails.

4 Photo: New tracks installed into platforms 4 & 5 at Blackpool North The station remains a hive of activity as Team Orange continues to work around the clock to complete track and platform upgrades, as well as install foundations for new overhead line equipment.

5 Photo: Looking out from the end of Blackpool s new platforms. Photo: A view across the new track layout into Blackpool North station. Progress through Poulton Work continues at Poulton-le-Fylde station to adjust the platforms to support a new track alignment.

6 Photo: Poulton-le-Fylde station. Our engineers have renewed, realigned and simplified the railway through Poulton-le-Fylde station to make space for electrification equipment. As well as installing new tracks, significant drainage work is also taking place to deliver a more reliable railway. Photo: New steelwork installed in the Poulton area. Elsewhere in Wyre, new overhead line masts are going up quickly, signalling the transformation of the railway. Kirkham & Wesham Team Orange are working hard at Kirkham & Wesham to build a bigger and better station.

7 Photo: New overhead masts installed to the east of Kirkham & Wesham station Photo: New steel masts installed adjacent to the Fox s Biscuits factory in Kirkham. Work to build a third platform is progressing at pace, as well as the construction of a new footbridge and lifts. Keeping our neighbours informed Yesterday we were at Blackpool North station on hand to speak with residents and passengers about our upgrade work. Regular drop-in sessions will continue until we ve completed the project:

8 Wednesday 24 January Mill Street, Kirkham, PR4 2AN Tuesday 30 January Poulton Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7PU Monday 5 February St Walburges Church Hall, Weston Street, Preston PR2 2QE Tuesday 13 February Blackpool North station, Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AB For a full list of drop-in events between Preston and Blackpool, please visit Stay in touch Follow us on for the latest Great North Rail Project news.