Travel · Rail, Channel & ferries · 7 November 2026
Network Rail to close East Lancashire line for bridge upgrades
Network Rail has announced track renewal work on a bridge over the M65 in East Lancashire, involving full railway closures and partial motorway restrictions. The project covers over 1,300 metres of track and is scheduled for late November, with rail replacement buses provided for affected passengers.
Network Rail has published plans to upgrade railway infrastructure on a bridge spanning the M65 motorway in East Lancashire. The scheme involves renewing over 1,300 metres of track, a process that requires both full railway closures and partial closures of the adjacent motorway lanes.
Full railway closures are scheduled for Sunday 22 November, and Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. During these periods, trains between Todmorden and Burnley Manchester Road will not run, and rail replacement buses will be provided to carry passengers. Neil O'Toole, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: "We know there's never an ideal time to close the railway but the scale and complexity of this track renewal on a bridge over the M65 motorway will see some travel impacts to both road and rail users."
Road users should note that the hard shoulder and lanes 1 & 2 on both carriageways of the M65 will be closed from 21:00 on Friday 27 to 05:00 on Monday 30 November. The investment in the modernised railway is expected to provide smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers once the work is complete.
A spokesperson for Northern added: "We're advising customers travelling on the East Lancashire line to plan ahead while this important work takes place." Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries if planning to travel over the affected weekends.
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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