'Crucial' Esk Valley railway line bridges replaced

A large crane will be used to replace four bridges on the route.

Four bridges will be replaced on a "crucial" North Yorkshire railway line in a £2m project.

The work, on the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby and 15 other stations, means a replacement bus service on nine days from Saturday.

Engineers will use a large crane to replace Carr Lane, Danby, Duck, and Thorneywaite bridges.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway will run extra services to Whitby during the work as it operates a different route.

Large rail cranes will be used to remove the existing bridge decks and install the new steelwork on the 35-mile (56km) route. All of the main bridge parts will be transported to the site by rail.

The closure was scheduled during a school holiday to minimise disruption as hundreds of students use the train to travel to school.

'Years to come'

Other work will be completed without closing the line.

Phil Verster, of Network Rail, said the bridges are nearing "the end of their life".

Richard Allan, of Northern Rail, said the route was a "crucial link" for the local community and the work would ensure a reliable service for "years to come".

There will be some road closures on Carr Lane in Glaisdale until 24 June during the works.