Delays as Arnside viaduct undergoes repairs

Rail passengers in west Cumbria will face disruption over the next four months so repairs can be carried out to a 150-year-old viaduct.

From Monday, stretches of the Furness line will be closed to trains and replacement buses will run over the River Kent.

The work, costing £12m, is expected to take 16 weeks.

Network Rail said structural improvements to the viaduct were vital.

For the next three weeks there will be no trains from Barrow-in-Furness to Grange-over-Sands or Arnside, and replacement buses will run instead.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Investment in the future of the Furness line is vital.

"The upgrade will not only bring major structural improvements to the viaduct but will also bring more benefits to passengers in the way of a smoother, quieter and faster ride."