Major West Coast Main Line Shutdown Looms as M6 Railway Bridge Is Replaced

Rail users and drivers are being advised to prepare for widespread disruption as work begins imminently on the replacement of a major railway bridge over the M6 in Cumbria.

After a year of preparation at Clifton, near Penrith, engineers are ready to install a vast new steel bridge that will carry West Coast Main Line services across the motorway. The existing structure, which has been in place for almost six decades, is subject to weight limits that allow only one train to cross at a time, regularly leading to delays.

The new bridge, stretching 130 metres and weighing approximately 4,200 tonnes, has been constructed nearby and will be moved into position by Network Rail and contractor Skanska during a two-week programme at the start of 2026. The complex operation will begin on the evening of New Year’s Eve, requiring the complete closure of the West Coast Main Line between Oxenholme and Carlisle until the morning of 15 January.

In parallel with the rail shutdown, sections of the M6 will also close on two successive weekends. The motorway will be shut in both directions between junction 39 at Shap and junction 40 near Penrith from 8pm on Friday 2 January to 5am on Monday 5 January, and again from 8pm on Friday 9 January until 5am on Monday 12 January 2026.

The dual closures will allow teams to carry out additional work, including the renewal of more than 80 kilometres of overhead power lines and major upgrades as part of a £61 million digital signalling programme north of Carlisle. Further railway closures across parts of the North West will take place to accommodate this work.

Between 1 and 4 January, lines through Preston, between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and north from Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie will all be closed. Services through Preston will resume on 5 and 6 January, though closures will remain in place between Oxenholme and Carlisle and on routes north of Carlisle. From 7 January until the early hours of 15 January, the line north of Carlisle will reopen, while work on the Clifton bridge continues further south.

William Brandon, Network Rail’s project manager, said:

“This is a vital project which will improve journeys for passengers for decades to come. While we close the railway to replace the M6 bridge we’ll also be renewing more than 80 kilometres of overhead lines and continuing our major modernisation of signalling systems. We appreciate passengers’ patience while this work is completed, and I would urge anyone planning to travel in this period to check National Rail Enquiries in advance.”

Steve Mason, programme delivery manager at National Highways, said:

“This is an essential, once-in-a-lifetime Network Rail project to future-proof one of the most important railway routes in the country and it can’t be delivered safely without closing the motorway. At National Highways we are doing all we can to ensure the diversion routes run as smoothly as possible but with the minimum of disruption to local communities. We are encouraging local people to find out more by visiting one of our drop-in sessions this month and carefully studying the leaflet arriving in thousands of local people’s letterboxes during the next fortnight.”

Chris Liptrot, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said:

“While Network Rail carries out essential work to replace the bridge, we will operate an amended timetable. Some journeys between the North West, Carlisle, and Scotland will involve changes onto a shuttle service as well as rail replacement buses. We strongly advise customers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling.”

Rosario Barcena, Skanska’s rail programme director said:

“We have made fantastic progress. The bridge has been built on schedule and our preparatory work for the removal of the current structure and installation of the new one is nearing completion. These planning works include a trial move of the new bridge using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) before Christmas. This progress has come as a result of close working between all the partners involved including Network Rail, National Highways, our supply chain team and local community.”

Image: Network Rail