| Work Detail |
Network Rail is investing GBP 500,000 to upgrade drainage at a key flooding hotspot in Cheshire, aiming to improve service reliability for passengers travelling between Liverpool and Chester. Frequent heavy rainfall in the North West has led to delays for trains passing through Ledsham near Hooton in recent months. To address this issue, engineers have developed a drainage solution that will help reduce flooding and improve reliability on the Merseyrail Network. To carry out the work, the line between Liverpool Central and Ellesmere Port/Chester will be closed from 2am on Sunday, 30 March, and will reopen at 5am on Tuesday, 1 April. “We are seeing more extreme weather events, and during autumn and winter 2024, the track at Hooton was blocked due to flooding for several days on three occasions. We recognise that this isn’t good enough and have invested in work that we hope will solve the problem and keep passengers on the move. Unfortunately, we need to close the railway to carry out this work, and we thank passengers for their patience,” Paul Owen, Network Rail’s Area Director for Merseyside and Cheshire, said. “We know how disruptive the flooding in and around the Hooton area has been for Merseyrail customers. We have been working closely with Network Rail to find a solution to this long-standing issue. While these drainage works will cause some further disruption, we hope they will significantly improve the reliability of our services on the Wirral Line. A comprehensive rail replacement bus service will be in operation during the works to help customers complete their journeys. We will continue working with partners to assess the effectiveness of the new drainage system and enhance the reliability of our railway,” Greg Suligowski, Head of Corporate Affairs at Merseyrail, added. The project involves installing purpose-built catch pits to divert and store excess water away from the railway track, reducing the risk of delays and cancellations due to poor weather conditions. Network Rail is working in partnership with Merseyrail to minimise disruption and keep passengers moving throughout the works. |
