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

[61653 HTAFC]

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

I was being a bit facetious as I'm sure you're aware. There are 4 lanes per direction at the M25 viaduct now, but there were originally 3.

 

[zwk500]

I was being a bit facetious as I'm sure you're aware. There are 4 lanes per direction at the M25 viaduct now, but there were originally 3.

I was indeed, I was remarking that the Victorians were even able to future proof better than the M25's designers for the M25, so though I'd balance it out with one they didn't get so good. As you mention, it was 3 lanes + hard shoulder through each span, now 4 lanes with no hard shoulder (briefly).

 

[voyagerdude220]

The will get route conducted.

Do you think it's likely some trains will be diverted over the S&C?

 

[AndrewE]

Do you think it's likely some trains will be diverted over the S&C?

it's the only practicable route - if they do that at all.

 

[The Planner]

Do you think it's likely some trains will be diverted over the S&C?

Its got further than it ever has before. We'll see.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

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.

Do you mean Kirkby Stephen, not Kirkby Lonsdale? Kirkby Lonsdale seems rather far South for this diversion.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Its got further than it ever has before. We'll see.

Interesting! Thanks.
It's a shame Avanti no longer have 221s, they could've just run say pairs of 221s shuttling between Preston and Carlisle every few hours to supplement the replacement busses/TPE if they also divert.

 

[Skiddaw]

Do you mean Kirkby Stephen, not Kirkby Lonsdale? Kirkby Lonsdale seems rather far South for this diversion.

Yes- Kirkby Stephen. Sorry- slip of the pen.

 

[Bald Rick]

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.

Yes the lanes are below standard width. I cant find the reference, but there was an article in NCE (I think) abiut it during the widening 15 years ago. I went on that section the day it opened (complete by chance, I thought, but I suspect my dad had sepcifically arranged the trip to his sisters that day so we could use it!), and I remember then thinking what good fortune it was that the Edwardian engineers (it being built after Queen Vic died) made it motorway width.


Re S&C diversions - they won‘t be diversions as such. It will be a Preston / Carlisle shuttle. For almost every rail journey to Scotland it will be quicker via York.

 

[chiltern trev]

Re M25 near Rickmansworth. That would be the Chiltern Line viaduct between Gerrard's Cross and Denham Golf Club. No hard shoulder in each direction.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Re S&C diversions - they won‘t be diversions as such. It will be a Preston / Carlisle shuttle. For almost every rail journey to Scotland it will be quicker via York.

That makes sense, given it would reduce the number of Diesel trains required by Avanti and/or TPE. Is it true that TPE want to call at Blackburn for pax connecting to/from Manchester?

 

[Skiddaw]

If anyone is interested, this is what the site currently looks like. The field adjacent to the bridge has been cleared and is to become a hard-standing/storage area and they've built a slip road from the motorway to access it. Once the work is complete everything is to be taken up and restored to how it was orginally.

 

[The Planner]

That makes sense, given it would reduce the number of Diesel trains required by Avanti and/or TPE. Is it true that TPE want to call at Blackburn for pax connecting to/from Manchester?

TPE haven't committed to running anything yet. Even then its likely only one set.

 

[voyagerdude220]

TPE haven't committed to running anything yet. Even then its likely only one set.

Ok thank you.

 

[Justin Smith]

Justin Smith said:
another classic example, it [Swinton station foot bridge] 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.

Repainting that huge footbridge would cost many thousands of pounds I am certain of it, particularly as they probably wouldn't allow them to use ladders and they'd have to paint the bits over the track at night when there were no trains > lighting towers and higher rates of pay for unsocial hours.... And that'd just be for slapping a new coat of paint on it, we all know if one is going to do the job properly it'd need wire brushing and/or sand blasting first, then under coating (and only then painting) which would cost tens of thousands (probably a hundred thousand plus for sand blasting as well ?).

 

[Lemmy99uk]

Repainting that huge footbridge would cost many thousands of pounds I am certain of it, particularly as they probably wouldn't allow them to use ladders and they'd have to paint the bits over the track at night when there were no trains > lighting towers and higher rates of pay for unsocial hours....

The footbridges on the Cumbrian Coast have been removed from site and refurbished elsewhere.

 

[Pinus contorta]

The footbridges on the Cumbrian Coast have been removed from site and refurbished elsewhere.

Did the one at Millom ?

 

[themiller]

Did the one at Millom ?

Only the part over the track ie the horizontal section and the steps at either side which were inline with it. The steps inline with the platforms and the landings were refurbished onsite.