Travel · Rail, Channel & ferries · 22 October 2026
Network Rail completes winter drainage checks in North West
Network Rail has announced it inspected 130 priority drainage and earthworks sites in the North West to prepare for winter. Improvements were made at Culcheth on the Chat Moss line. Delays from flooding or fallen trees are likely this winter.
Network Rail has confirmed it completed inspections of all 130 priority drainage and earthworks sites in the North West region to ready the network for winter weather. The work involved checking specific locations identified as needing attention before the colder months begin.
Olivia Devan, Network Rail North West principal route engineer, said: "Safety is always our number one priority, and we've been working since the summer to get the railway ready for what's expected to be a very tough winter weather wise." Since 2021, over £1.5m has been invested to address flooding issues at Culcheth on the Chat Moss line between Liverpool and Warrington. An additional £41m has gone into earthworks schemes to strengthen embankments and cuttings.
The North West route contains 65,000 individual drains that require maintenance. Seven autumn treatment trains are operating to clear leaves and will travel 100,000 miles until December. Forecast rainfall is expected to be 40-60% higher than usual due to El Nino.
Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries before travelling if storms are forecast. Delays caused by flooding or fallen trees are likely this winter, with wet and windy conditions posing a risk of disruption in the coming months.
Written by StreetOwl from Network Rail’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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