The complex engineering work at Farnworth tunnel. Picture by Network Rail
A railway tunnel which was opened the year after Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 is being enlarged as part of the electrification of the Manchester-Bolton rail line.
The original brick-built Farnworth tunnel is being bored out and given a concrete lining to make room for overhead electric wires in a project which is expected to be completed in October. It will be big enough for two tracks and will allow the adjoining 1880 tunnel to be closed.
More work will be needed on the line from Manchester to Bolton and Preston before 100mph electric trains can start running at the end of next year.
Electrification of the Preston-Blackpool line is also scheduled for 2016.
Bethan Dale, Network Rail’s project manager, explained the complexity of the scheme to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin when he visited Farnworth on Tuesday 11 August, a month after he announced a “pause” on electrification work on the Midland main line and the transPennine Manchester-Leeds route.
There are fears that the electrification programme is falling behind schedule, but earlier this year a major step forward was achieved when electrification of lines between Manchester, Liverpool and Wigan was completed, allowing electric trains to be introduced.
Film about the Farnworth scheme
Background film
NW electrification