West Coast Main Line Reopens After £43M 21-Day Upgrade Across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester

Network Rail has reopened a 50-mile stretch of the West Coast Main Line through Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester after a 21-day closure to carry out major engineering works valued at over £43 million. The closure allowed for the removal and rebuilding of the 67-year-old Greek Street bridge south of Stockport station, alongside upgrades to bridges, tracks, overhead lines, level crossings, and drainage across the region. The Greek Street bridge replacement was completed in just four days and marked one of the most geographically wide-ranging closures in recent years. Network Rail released footage of the first trains running through Stockport and time-lapse videos of the bridge's dismantling and reconstruction to highlight the project's progress. Passengers were provided with revised timetables and replacement transport during the closure, which Network Rail and local authorities acknowledged caused significant disruption but was necessary to improve reliability and capacity. The upgrades aim to provide a safer, more reliable railway for future passenger and freight journeys.