Siberian cold delays rail upgrade work

Unsurprisingly the now drawn out cold weather impacting on the UK has had a knock-on effect with the railway electrification contracts in the northwest. The Blackpool to Preston upgrade has understandably been delayed by at least three weeks according to reports published this week. Therefore trains will not be running into Blackpool North during the Easter holiday weekend which is much earlier in the calendar this year.

Anyone needing to work outside during these sustained bitterly cold nights with strong easterly winds has my sympathy; and even with weather protection gear on, sustained exposure in these conditions limits progressing delicate overhead installation.

At least Blackpool and the Fylde coast have been free from snow which has affected other parts of the country, especially the northeast and Scotland (among other regions). But that is just marginally helpful amid severe winter temperatures which are still with us.