Re: Construction completed on new £60m Penrith M6 rail bridge Posted by Mark A at 21:36, 21st October 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I was fond of the sight of that pair of WCML M6 bridges at Penrith as they consisted of graceful if massive spans. The short life of certain concrete structures is... quite something. Some Angloscottish diversions via the Settle and Carlisle for this, which is a reversal of the bustitution that's happened for the last epoch.
Another that will bite the M6 in a couple of years time - and for several years duration - is the replacement of a series of concrete motorway structures close to Tebay, presumably for similar reasons.
Mark
Construction completed on new £60m Penrith M6 rail bridge Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:10, 21st October 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
From the BBC:

Construction of a new £60m railway bridge set to go over the M6 has been completed.
The bridge, which is 130m (426ft) tall and weighs around 3,000 tonnes, will replace the old Clifton bridge which crosses the M6 near Penrith in Cumbria and carries trains travelling on the West Coast Main Line.
Network Rail said the old bridge would be removed and the new one installed in the new year, leading to motorway and railway closures.
William Brandon, Network Rail's project manager, said the bridge would improve the "safety and reliability" of the line for passengers and reduce train delays. "We are working with National Highways to reduce any disruption caused by this vital upgrade," he said.
No trains will run on the West Coast Main Line from Oxenholme to Carlisle between 31 December and 15 January 2026.

Chris Liptrot, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said services between the North West, Carlisle and Scotland would be amended during this time. He said passengers should plan ahead and check the National Rail website before travelling.
The M6 will also be shut on two consecutive weekends - 2 to 5 January and 9 to 12 January - in both directions between junctions 39 at Shap and 40 near Penrith. Diversions will be in place, with routes to be released closer to the time.