Preparing local stations for longer trains

Littleborough station

As part of the multi-million-pound Great North Rail Project, Network Rail, Transpennine Express and Northern, are working on stations, including Smithy Bridge, Mills Hill and Littleborough, to prepare the North for longer trains.

Each platform due to be extended at each station has a different scope, varying from a five metre to a 100-metre extension. The construction method also varies by location. Some platforms will be brought back into use, others will be extended.

Smithy Bridge: From 19 August until 4 November, both platforms will be made longer at Smithy Bridge. To complete this work, a site compound will be set up in land next to the car park. We will also require the use of five car park spaces.

Mills Hill: From 10 September until 14 December, we are lengthening both platforms at Mills Hill station. This will require a site compound at the station car park.

Littleborough: From 8 October until 8 December, we will lengthen both platforms at Littleborough. There will be a compound sited to the rear of the Co-op supermarket on Network Rail land.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “To ensure that trains are not disrupted during the day, the majority of upgrade work will be carried out at night when trains aren’t running.

“There will also be a degree of noise which is unavoidable due to the nature of the works. There will be occasions when engineering trains are required to pass along the line to transport equipment to worksites.

“Above all, our maintenance and project teams will endeavour to implement a range of measures to help reduce noise.”