Major £7.5m upgrade of Victorian viaduct complete

The line cuts through the Peak District near Chapel-en-le-Frith

A £7.5m refurbishment project on a railway viaduct which spans a valley in the Peak District has been completed.

The installation of new rail track was among the work carried out on one of the twin viaducts at Chapel Milton, near Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire.

The 160-year-old structure is used to carry about 25,000 tonnes of stone, cement and limestone across the Black Brook Valley from four quarries in the Peak District every day.

The project was completed on 7 September and Emma Thistlethwaite, Network Rail project manager, said: "It's been hugely rewarding to breathe new life into this fantastic Victorian structure and secure its future for freight services for decades to come."

The 15-arch structure is described as a "mainstay of the success" of the country's freight network

The first line of the Chapel Milton Viaduct was opened in 1867 for trains from London St Pancras to and from Manchester, with the second fork towards Sheffield operational from 1890.

It was built for passenger services, but is now used for freight.

As part of the project, which began in May, the structure has been strengthened, brickwork repairs carried out, the bridge walls have been reinforced, and the track has been replaced and realigned.

New waterproofing, drainage systems, handrails and guardrails have also been installed, said Network Rail.

The Great Rocks line was closed between 29 August and 7 September while the track was removed and replaced by contractor AmcoGiffen.