COMMUTERS are holding their breath for the big return to work on Monday - hoping that north west railways recover from one of the biggest shutdowns in recent years.

Engineering work has closed large sections over Christmas and New Year, mainly as part of the push to upgrade Manchester's link to London on the West Coast Main Line.

The good news is that the work which halted trains between Piccadilly and Stockport has finished on time and the line is open.

The bad news is that the line from Cheadle Hulme to Crewe will close until the end of May.

The Piccadilly to Stockport work involved the essential replacement of 40-year-old signalling equipment at Longsight, which is one of the north west's busiest junctions.

The project also included commissioning the train protection warning system (TPWS), which prevents trains passing signals at danger, at nine locations in the Longsight area. TPWS was also commissioned at 10 other places near Cheadle Hulme on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Network Rail's West Coast Director James Martin said: "Engineers worked around the clock from Christmas Day to commission the signalling system. This will help secure the future of the railway in this area for another 40 years."

Trains will continue to run between Piccadilly and Crewe via an alternative route during the closure, but no trains will call at Handforth, Alderley Edge, Chelford, Holmes Chapel and Sandbach. Buses will replace trains from those stations and also from Wilmslow at weekends, but commuter operator First North Western will run a special weekday service between Wilmslow and Piccadilly via the Styal line every half-hour in the rush hour and hourly at other times.

FNW is warning passengers to check before travelling, as new timetables come into force from Sunday. Commercial director Denise Lennox said: "Passengers should be aware of minor changes in the new timetables and some regular services have been slightly retimed."

To check journey times, call First North Western's 24-hour train running hotline on 0800 528 0200 or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Or log on to www.firstnorthwestern.co.uk/timetables/timetables.html

Meanwhile, engineering works on the West Coast Mainline will cause major disruption for passengers travelling from Preston to Carlisle every weekend until Sunday, February 8.

The line will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, forcing passengers to take a replacement bus service. Travellers will also face problems every Sunday until February 8 on the Virgin Trains service from Preston to Blackpool North because of engineering works. A bus service will be available.



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