Uk’s Avanti West Coast Diverts Trains To Historic Settle To Carlisle Line During New Works On West Coast Main Line

Published on September 22, 2025

In an breathtaking improvement for obstruction enthusiasts and travelers alike, Avanti West Coast has announced that trains connected nan West Coast Main Line (WCML) will beryllium diverted onto nan historic Settle to Carlisle Line for nan first clip successful complete a decade. This diversion will return spot during nan first 2 weeks of January 2026 as a consequence of basal engineering activity connected the WCML.

The closure of the West Coast Main Line between Preston and Carlisle will let for nan replacement of the Clifton Bridge, a captious portion of nan infrastructure that spans the M6 motorway near Penrith, Cumbria. With this development, Avanti West Coast will usage the 73-mile Settle to Carlisle Line for its services, offering passengers a scenic replacement while nan main way undergoes basal upgrades.

The Settle to Carlisle Line: A Scenic Alternative

The Settle to Carlisle Line is good known for its picturesque views, which see rolling hills and expansive landscapes, crossing done the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines. One of nan astir striking features of nan way is the Ribblehead Viaduct, a historical building that offers stunning views from nan train windows. The line, however, is not typically utilized by Avanti West Coast, arsenic it is chiefly serviced by Northern trains operating between Leeds and Carlisle.

For years, railway enthusiasts have advocated for this statement to beryllium utilized arsenic a diversion way during disruptions connected the West Coast Main Line. The displacement is seen arsenic a breakthrough for obstruction travel, providing an opportunity for passengers to acquisition 1 of nan UK’s astir scenic obstruction routes while avoiding awesome disruptions. Avanti West Coast’s determination to utilize this statement marks a important collaboration betwixt the rail industry, Network Rail, and Avanti West Coast itself to minimize recreation disruptions during nan scheduled upgrade work.

Engineering Works and nan Need for Diversions

The request for the Settle to Carlisle Line diversion arose from planned engineering works on the West Coast Main Line, which will impact nan replacement of the Clifton Bridge. The Clifton Bridge is a 60-year-old structure that presently has weight restrictions, allowing only 1 train to transverse astatine a time. This regularisation has occasionally led to delays, peculiarly for rider and freight services.

In consequence to these challenges, Network Rail has committed to investing £60 million to switch nan aging Clifton Bridge with a caller building that will let aggregate trains to walk complete the M6 motorway simultaneously. The caller span will destruct weight restrictions, easing nan travel of postulation and reducing delays connected 1 of nan country’s busiest obstruction lines.

The impermanent closure of the WCML between Preston and Carlisle will facilitate this upgrade work, and Avanti West Coast has devised a clever solution by diverting trains to the Settle to Carlisle Line. This will allow Avanti West Coasttrains to proceed operating, ensuring that passengers tin still recreation between Preston and Carlisle with minimal disruption.

Utilization of nan Evero Fleet for nan Diversion

One of nan cardinal components successful making this diversion imaginable is nan usage of Avanti West Coast’s Evero trains. These bi-mode trains, tin of moving connected either electric aliases diesel power, are perfectly suited to the Settle to Carlisle Line, which is not presently electrified. The elasticity of these Evero trains means that they tin tally smoothly on nan historical line, contempt nan deficiency of electrification, without requiring further infrastructure investment.

Andy Mellors, the Managing Director of Avanti West Coast, emphasized nan value of nan Evero fleet successful maintaining work continuity during nan engineering works. He noted that manufacture investigation has shown that passengers for illustration to stay connected trains during planned disruptions rather than look lengthy replacement autobus journeys. By utilizing the Evero trains, Avanti West Coast is capable to connection passengers a much comfortable and nonstop recreation experience, moreover during nan impermanent closure of the West Coast Main Line.

Mellors besides acknowledged nan collaborative efforts between Avanti West Coast, Network Rail, and nan broader obstruction manufacture successful creating a solution that minimizes disruption while maintaining work to captious areas of nan country. This collaboration reflects a increasing inclination successful nan obstruction manufacture to prioritize rider comfortableness and continuity of work during basal upgrades and infrastructure improvements.

Alternative Travel Options During nan Disruption

While nan diversion of West Coast Main Line services to the Settle to Carlisle Line will thief guarantee that passengers tin proceed their journeys without important delays, location are still immoderate changes to recreation plans for definite routes. Passengers walking to Scotland from cities like London, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester will beryllium advised to usage the East Coast Main Line via different operators during nan diversion period.

Additionally, rail replacement buses will beryllium deployed for those walking to and from Lancaster, Oxenholme, and Penrith. This solution will supply replacement options for passengers while nan engineering useful are underway, ensuring that everyone tin still complete their journeys pinch arsenic small disruption arsenic possible.

Timetable and Future Expectations

Detailed timetables for the Settle to Carlisle Line services during nan closure of the West Coast Main Line will beryllium published successful early October 2025. Passengers tin expect to person much accusation astir recreation times and circumstantial train schedules, ensuring that they are well-prepared for nan changes. The usage of the Settle to Carlisle Line for nan first clip successful much than a decade presents an breathtaking opportunity for some seasoned obstruction travelers and newcomers alike, offering a scenic travel done immoderate of nan UK’s astir stunning landscapes.

Conclusion: A Collaborative Effort for Seamless Travel

The determination to usage the Settle to Carlisle Line as a diversion for West Coast Main Line services during the Clifton Bridge replacement is a testament to nan increasing collaboration wrong the UK obstruction industry. By leveraging nan elasticity of the Evero bi-mode trains and capitalizing connected the historic railway line’s scenic appeal, Avanti West Coastis capable to guarantee that its passengers proceed to acquisition minimal disruption contempt nan basal engineering works.

This diversion will not only thief support nan travel of recreation between Preston and Carlisle but besides supply an opportunity for passengers to acquisition nan beauty of the Settle to Carlisle Line. The collaboration between Network Rail, Avanti West Coast, and different obstruction manufacture stakeholders highlights nan industry’s committedness to improving work and infrastructure, ensuring that UK railways remain efficient, reliable, and enjoyable for travelers for years to come.