Trains are expected to be disrupted after more than £100,000 worth of high-voltage cable was stolen by thieves over the Christmas period.
Network Rail has warned passengers to expect disruption between Chorley and Bolton this weekend while workers replace the cable and retest the system. Services to Preston are also thought to be affected.
Engineers realised the cable was missing when they arrived to carry out work in Lostock, Bolton – part of a larger project to electrify the line between Wigan and Bolton, which began in 2022.
The theft happened just one week before the line was due to be energised for the first time, on New Year’s Day.
Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s capital delivery director, apologised to passengers for the disruption.
‘I am very sorry to passengers who will be impacted by the rail closure between Chorley and Bolton on Sunday,’ he said. ‘It is extremely frustrating for this crime to take place so close to the energisation of the line.
‘Our teams have been working very hard to deliver this upgrade for passengers over several years including over this Christmas period.
‘We are working closely with the British Transport Police to provide additional security measures and to find and prosecute those accountable.’
Network Rail has warned passengers to expect disruption on certain lines this weekend while workers replace the cable and retest the system following the theft (Stock image)
Network Rail has said it is working with British Transport Police to provide additional security measures and to find and prosecute those accountable (Stock image)
Passengers have been advised to check the National Rail website or with their train operator to find out what the closure means for their journey.
Network Rail also warned passengers to take extra care as electrified routes have 25,000 volts running through them.
It comes following issues at major UK airports over the weekend due to persistent foggy weather.
Chaos broke out at airports including Manchester and Gatwick yesterday as ‘heavy fog’ descended with more than 100 flights delayed or cancelled.
Fog may cause further flight delays for passengers at London Gatwick airport tomorrow, while weekend flights have also been called at Heathrow.
Flights were delayed by up to three hours from Gatwick on Friday evening due to the thick fog.
A spokesperson for Nats, the UK’s main air traffic control provider, said on Friday: ‘Due to widespread fog, temporary air traffic restrictions are in place at several airports across the UK today. Restrictions of this sort are only ever applied to maintain safety.
‘We continue to monitor the situation and have a Met Office expert embedded within our operation to ensure we have the latest available information. Our teams are working closely with the airports and airlines to minimise disruption.’
Meanwhile, National Highways, which runs the UK’s motorways and busiest A-roads, said the misty weather is not having a significant impact on its network, but reminded motorists to use dipped headlights, wipers and demisters while driving in foggy conditions.