Construction completed on new £60m rail bridge

The newly completed bridge is set to be put in place in the new year

Construction of a new £60m railway bridge set to go over the M6 has been completed.

The bridge, which is 130m (426ft) long and weighs around 3,000 tonnes, will replace the old Clifton bridge which crosses the M6 near Penrith in Cumbria and carries trains travelling on the West Coast Main Line.

Network Rail said the old bridge would be removed and the new one installed in the new year, leading to motorway and railway closures.

William Brandon, Network Rail's project manager, said the bridge would improve the "safety and reliability" of the line for passengers and reduce train delays.

"We are working with National Highways to reduce any disruption caused by this vital upgrade," he said.

No trains will run on the West Coast Main Line from Oxenholme to Carlisle between 31 December and 15 January 2026.

The new bridge will replace the existing Clifton bridge, which is almost 60 years old

Chris Liptrot, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said services between the North West, Carlisle and Scotland would be amended during this time.

He said passengers should plan ahead and check the National Rail website before travelling.

The M6 will also be shut on two consecutive weekends - 2 to 5 January and 9 to 12 January - in both directions between junctions 39 at Shap and 40 near Penrith.

Diversions will be in place, with routes to be released closer to the time.