Major closures for Clifton railway bridge replacement

A large-scale railway bridge replacement in Clifton, Cumbria, is set to bring major disruptions to train and motorway travel this weekend.

Network Rail and Skanska began removing the existing Clifton railway bridge and installing the newly constructed replacement on the evening of New Year's Eve. The bridge, weighing 4,200 tonnes and measuring in at 130 meters, will carry trains on the West Coast Main Line over the M6 motorway.

The work is intended to modernise the transport infrastructure in the area, alleviating issues caused by the old bridge, which dates back to the 1960s. Currently, weight restrictions limit it to one train at a time, creating delays for passengers.

Closures and Diversions

The bridge replacement project will require several closures across the railway and road networks.

Train services on the West Coast Main Line will be suspended in this region between Oxenholme and Carlisle until 15th January 2026. The full closure began on 31st December 2025 and will affect routes connecting Preston, Carlisle, Dumfries, and Lockerbie.

Meanwhile, sections of the M6 motorway will close over two weekends:

From 8pm on Friday 2nd January to 5am on Monday 5th January.

From 8pm on Friday 9th January to 5am on Monday 12th January.

During these closures, the motorway will be shut in both directions between junctions 39 (Shap) and 40 (Penrith). Drivers are urged to plan ahead and consider alternative routes during this time.

Further Infrastructure Upgrades

The bridge replacement work aligns with broader Network Rail projects aimed at improving passenger experiences along the northern and southern sections of the West Coast Main Line.

More than 80 kilometres of overhead cabling will also be renewed, and a £61m digital signalling upgrade project north of Carlisle will continue during the railway shutdown. Additional investments include a £26m junction upgrade at Hanslope in Northamptonshire and £16m improvements to Preston station’s signalling system.

Advice for Travellers

Passengers planning rail journeys are advised to check National Rail Enquiries for the latest updates. Avanti West Coast confirmed it will introduce a revised timetable during the closures, including shuttle services and rail replacement buses for affected routes.

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."