Major Engineering Work Planned at Clifton (Cumbria) to Replace WestCoast Mainline Bridge Over M6 - Jan 2026

[quantinghome]

What do you mean by that ?

It's a well-known saying - built like a brick ****house.

 

[Justin Smith]

It's a well-known saying - built like a brick ****house.

Oh I see, pardon me for being a bit obtuse, I was originally wondering of you were disagreeing with my earlier post that houses built of brick with a pitched slate (or tile) roof will last a hell of a lot longer than the prefabs they're trying to foist on us these days, and they'll need a hell of a lot less maintenance over their lifetime.....

 

[voyagerdude220]

Has anyone heard rumours of either TPE and/or Avanti looking into plans to run services via the Settle and Carlisle whilst these works are taking place?
I suppose there's nothing stopping them learning the route if they wanted to, although I don't know what traction they'd use, unless say TPE jiggled diagrams to release a few 185s.

 

[swt_passenger]

Has anyone heard rumours of either TPE and/or Avanti looking into plans to run services via the Settle and Carlisle whilst these works are taking place?
I suppose there's nothing stopping them learning the route if they wanted to, although I don't know what traction they'd use, unless say TPE jiggled diagrams to release a few 185s.

@The Planner said ‘no diversions’, back in post #4 of a thread spun out of this one:

A strategy for ensuring sufficient capacity for passengers to take alternative routes during WCML closures

Moderator note: Split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/major-engineering-work-planned-at-clifton-to-replace-westcoast-mainline-bridge-over-m6-jan-2026.269849/ Wonder what the train plan is going to be? Lots of rail replacement between Preston / Lancaster / Oxenholme and Carlisle?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[voyagerdude220]

@The Planner said ‘no diversions’, back in post #4 of a thread spun out of this one:

A strategy for ensuring sufficient capacity for passengers to take alternative routes during WCML closures

Moderator note: Split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/major-engineering-work-planned-at-clifton-to-replace-westcoast-mainline-bridge-over-m6-jan-2026.269849/ Wonder what the train plan is going to be? Lots of rail replacement between Preston / Lancaster / Oxenholme and Carlisle?

www.railforums.co.uk

Thank you.

 

[KN94]

Has anyone heard rumours of either TPE and/or Avanti looking into plans to run services via the Settle and Carlisle whilst these works are taking place?
I suppose there's nothing stopping them learning the route if they wanted to, although I don't know what traction they'd use, unless say TPE jiggled diagrams to release a few 185s.

It is being discussed. More likely to be Avanti than TPE.
However, there are also rumours the entire TriLink project is on shaky ground (in terms of access strategy) so not sure how much resource Avanti would be willing to provide for something with minimal guarantees.

 

[MatthewHutton]

another classic example, it is severely rusting now and (in fact one of the walkways might even be closed) and it's only about 35 years old. I am not sure it's ever been repainted actually, but even if it has doing so would have been an expensive and time consuming operation.

To be fair painting and decorating is fairly cheap. That said the best Dulux trade paints last about a decade so yeah after 35 years likely stuff needs refreshing.

Cynical but absolutely true imho.

Again infuriating but true.

It is why a rolling programme of electrification (or any other project you care to mention) is best. Nice and steady over many years. When maintenance/renewal is due in my grand children's lifetime, it will not all come due at once. Rolling stock and locomotives/units the same. Electrify, cascade, some new. Rinse and repeat.

Infrastructure and rebuilds need to happen on a nice steady rolling basis.

It is amazing what can be achieved if politicians and others stop worrying about who gets the credit.

I think the politicians would get a lot of credit for a rolling electrification programme. Lots of stuff completed every year.

 

[voyagerdude220]

It is being discussed. More likely to be Avanti than TPE.
However, there are also rumours the entire TriLink project is on shaky ground (in terms of access strategy) so not sure how much resource Avanti would be willing to provide for something with minimal guarantees.

Thanks.
What is TriLink?
I'm guessing Avanti would use the Hitachi stock, or would they drag Pendolinos like they used to?

 

[ABB125]

However, there are also rumours the entire TriLink project is on shaky ground (in terms of access strategy)

As in, the planned work schedule is incompatible with the access rights granted to operators? (So essentially the plan is "too disruptive"?)

 

[DelW]

Thanks.
What is TriLink?
I'm guessing Avanti would use the Hitachi stock, or would they drag Pendolinos like they used to?

Google is your (and was my!) friend ...

TriLink - the intelligent renewal of West Coast Main Line north - Rail Engineer

Listen to this article The West Coast Main Line (WMCL) is arguably the most important long-distance railway trunk route in Britain. The line was developed in the mid-1800s, to connect London and Glasgow with connections to the cities of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Edinburgh. It does...

www.railengineer.co.uk

The route from Preston Brook tunnel south of Warrington to Gretna, located to the north of Carlisle, was last significantly renewed 50 years ago when overhead electrification was provided. Dozens of absolute block mechanical signal boxes with semaphore signalling were also replaced with colour light track circuit signalling, controlled from Warrington, Preston, and Carlisle power signal boxes. Carlisle power signal box alone replaced over 40 mechanical signal boxes.

Now, 50 years later, TriLink is the name of the programme to ‘intelligently’ renew the route and to provide a more reliable timetable for passengers and freight services. The objective is to renew the assets so they are safer, easier to maintain, and more reliable, to keep passengers and freight moving while reducing the volume of costly signalling work.

 

[KN94]

Thanks.
What is TriLink?
I'm guessing Avanti would use the Hitachi stock, or would they drag Pendolinos like they used to?

TriLink is (was) the same for a prolonged renewal on the West Coast Mainline, predominantly focused on renewing OHLE wires.
The M6 bridge reconstruction doesn't fall under TriLink but was set to coincide with the start of the project.
TriLink isn't going away as such. I believe it's being scaled down and potentially re-named.

As in, the planned work schedule is incompatible with the access rights granted to operators? (So essentially the plan is "too disruptive"?)

Almost. Although I think most operators were willing to accept, there's been a pivot away from multiple day blockades.
The project will continue, but in a much more typical access form (weekends + bank holidays).

As far as I understood it, Avanti were considering Settle & Carlisle diverts, with their 80x fleet. However, this was with the understanding of multi-day blocks. Now the project is likely weekends, I think the diverts are being reconsidered.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What's the likely planned road diversion when the M6 motorway through the bridge works area is closed? If it's just the A6 between Junctions 39 + 40 of the motorway, that going to be fun!

 

[AndrewE]

What's the likely planned road diversion when the M6 motorway through the bridge works area is closed? If it's just the A6 between Junctions 39 + 40 of the motorway, that going to be fun!

I thought it was discussed upthread, but having a quick skim through this all seems to be materials science! Maybe it was on https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...tes-during-wcml-closures.280005/#post-7113633.
The conclusion was that roads would inevitably be overwhelmed, particularly at several pinch points. Hence pessimism about the attraction or viability of rail-replacement buses, but even so (IIRC) we were told quite firmly that diverts would not happen.

 

[KN94]

What's the likely planned road diversion when the M6 motorway through the bridge works area is closed? If it's just the A6 between Junctions 39 + 40 of the motorway, that going to be fun!

The M6 will 'only' be closed for the weekends. I guess with it being January there might be somewhat less leisure travel but it's still difficult to imagine the A6 not being overwhelmed. Plus if something then happens on the A6, you're out of luck.

That is partly why Settle & Carlisle diversions were/are being considered - if you were to travel now, the timings of a diversionary rail route compared to a RRB are quite similar, but throw everything onto the A6 and the train might just win.

 

[The Planner]

@The Planner said ‘no diversions’, back in post #4 of a thread spun out of this one:

A strategy for ensuring sufficient capacity for passengers to take alternative routes during WCML closures

Moderator note: Split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/major-engineering-work-planned-at-clifton-to-replace-westcoast-mainline-bridge-over-m6-jan-2026.269849/ Wonder what the train plan is going to be? Lots of rail replacement between Preston / Lancaster / Oxenholme and Carlisle?

www.railforums.co.uk

I can also be wrong
It is being looked at, but won't be drags and wouldn't be many services.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are 805s cleared via the S&C?

 

[The Planner]

Are 805s cleared via the S&C?

They would be cleared for it.

 

[KN94]

I can also be wrong
It is being looked at, but won't be drags and wouldn't be many services.

In all fairness, it has been a relatively new addition to the discussion.
Back in January, it was incredibly unlikely. Now it's just unlikely.

 

[Pinus contorta]

The M6 will 'only' be closed for the weekends. I guess with it being January there might be somewhat less leisure travel but it's still difficult to imagine the A6 not being overwhelmed. Plus if something then happens on the A6, you're out of luck.

That is partly why Settle & Carlisle diversions were/are being considered - if you were to travel now, the timings of a diversionary rail route compared to a RRB are quite similar, but throw everything onto the A6 and the train might just win.

If the occasional accident related closure and diversion off the M6 round Kendal is anything to go by it will be problematic. I know that's slightly different scenario, from a geographical point of view though.

 

[The Planner]

In all fairness, it has been a relatively new addition to the discussion.
Back in January, it was incredibly unlikely. Now it's just unlikely.

If I was a betting man, I'd still have a few quid on it happening for the Clifton block. West Coast North blocks, not so much.

 

[AndrewE]

If I was a betting man, I'd still have a few quid on it happening for the Clifton block. West Coast North blocks, not so much.

Really? If they are going to replace all the wires in less than a decade or two, surely there will have to be more than just weekend blockages? Either that or massively increased numbers of wiring trains and teams.
I can't see a high-speed rewiring train working in the same way that a high-speed track renewal can be automated/mechanised.

 

[The Planner]

Really? If they are going to replace all the wires in less than a decade or two, surely there will have to be more than just weekend blockages? Either that or massively increased numbers of wiring trains and teams.
I can't see a high-speed rewiring train working in the same way that a high-speed track renewal can be automated/mechanised.

Depends on how many wire runs they can do in a block. They may throw resource at it and you tend to become better and more efficient the more you do. Its still early days.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Are 805s cleared via the S&C?

TPE could potentially use 185s if they were able to work out a way of releasing a few sets.
A few months ago 2x185s ran Carlisle-Settle-Preston (empty stock) I believe related to some sort of testing.

 

[driver9000]

TPE could potentially use 185s if they were able to work out a way of releasing a few sets.
A few months ago 2x185s ran Carlisle-Settle-Preston (empty stock) I believe related to some sort of testing.

While they're cleared for the S&C having been over it a few times, Preston and Glasgow crews don't sign 185s.

 

[standish1]

Noted BLS did a southbound trip over Carlisle/Settle with185120/151 on April 19th 2015 with Desiro Tracker. See full details on Six Bells Junction.

 

[voyagerdude220]

While they're cleared for the S&C having been over it a few times, Preston and Glasgow crews don't sign 185s.

Good point, however- Presumably neither Avanti nor TPE have any crews who still sign the S&C so both would need to get their crews to learn/re learn the route.

 

[Skiddaw]

What's the likely planned road diversion when the M6 motorway through the bridge works area is closed? If it's just the A6 between Junctions 39 + 40 of the motorway, that going to be fun!

M6 Northbound traffic will be routed onto the A6 at Junction 39 (through to the A66 at Kemplay Bank roundabout and hence back to the M6 at Junction 40). The traffic lights at Eamont Bridge won't be on and it won't be possible to go across Kemplay Bank towards Penrith. Southbound traffic will come off the M6 at Junction 40 and routed onto the A66 and eventually over towards Kirby Lonsdale (so the A6 from Shap through to Penrith will be one way). Us locals will have permits to allow us to use the various side roads so we can get about (to an extent at least). It'll be a bit like how it is when Kendal Calling is on.

In the meantime, the preliminary work is proceeding apace..... I won't say us Clifonites are madly looking forward to some of it but it'll certainly be fascinating to watch the new bridge being slotted into place!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Whenever there's a rail-over-motorway bridge replacement discussion, I always think about how much foresight Victorian engineers had when building viaducts, that they often made their arches just the right width to fit a 3-lane motorway carriageway (M60 at Stockport, M25 near Rickmansworth)... How did they know?

 

[zwk500]

Whenever there's a rail-over-motorway bridge replacement discussion, I always think about how much foresight Victorian engineers had when building viaducts, that they often made their arches just the right width to fit a 3-lane motorway carriageway (M60 at Stockport, M25 near Rickmansworth)... How did they know?

The M25's got 4 lanes through that viaduct but they feel rather tight as they do squeeze through! I'm not sure if they do drop below the standard motorway width or it's just a trick of the light. Google maps says the width at the viaduct is 2m narrower than just north of it.

Mind you, it didn't always work out - there's a (now abandoned) viaduct in Bristol that has a pier directly in what would be a traffic lane! (granted a 2-lane road not a motorway) https://maps.app.goo.gl/9Wswx6HbJEZaes186

 

[The Planner]

Good point, however- Presumably neither Avanti nor TPE have any crews who still sign the S&C so both would need to get their crews to learn/re learn the route.

The will get route conducted.