Avanti West Coast has started running trains on the historic Settle to Carlisle line to keep customers moving across during major engineering work for the next two weeks.
The 07.54 departure today, January 1, from Wigan to Carlisle was the first intercity passenger service to use the 73-mile-long railway in over 10 years.
The line is being used as a diversionary route until January 15 while the West Coast Main Line is blocked between Preston and Carlisle.
Network Rail is replacing Clifton Bridge, which takes the railway over the M6 motorway near Penrith.
Avanti West Coast is running a shuttle service roughly every two hours non-stop via the Settle to Carlisle route.
The operator has worked in close collaboration with Network Rail and the wider railway industry to keep customers travelling by rail and avoid lengthy bus journeys where possible during the engineering work.
Avanti West Coast is using its Class 805 Evero bi-mode fleet which was introduced in June 2024 and normally run on the operator’s North Wales, West Midlands and Blackpool routes.
The trains are able to run on electric or diesel power, so with no overhead power wires on the Settle to Carlisle line, the operator is using the diesel capability of its new fleet to keep customers moving during the engineering work.
There are some changes on the routes normally served by the Class 805 Evero trains whilst they are running on the Settle to Carlisle diversion. Customers travelling during these two weeks are advised to check before they travel.
Andy Mellors, managing director of Avanti West Coast, said: “Today marks the conclusion of months of extensive planning alongside Network Rail and other operators, and I am delighted to see these services come into fruition to keep the North West open for rail travel during these planning engineering work.”
Phil James, Network Rail’s North West Route Director, said: “The replacement of Clifton bridge over the M6 near Penrith is a crucial piece of railway work that will mean safer and more reliable journeys for passengers for the next 120 years.
“During this essential closure of the West Coast Main Line, we’ve worked with Avanti West Coast to divert services via the iconic Settle to Carlisle line, which gives passengers the option to continue to travel by rail wherever possible. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience during this work.”
Until January 5, the railway will also be blocked just south of Preston, meaning on these days the diverted services are running between Wigan North Western and Carlisle. For the remainder of the two weeks, these trains will operate to and from Preston.
With some of the diverted services extending to and from Crewe and the West Midlands, customers are advised to plan their journeys in advance.
Those travelling from Birmingham, Manchester and London to Carlisle and Scotland should go via the East Coast Main Line using other operators. For those wishing to travel to and from Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith, a rail replacement bus service will be in operation.
