SIGNALLING systems are now being installed at the Todmorden Curve as the project to bring the railway track back into use nears completion.

The £8.8million scheme to breathe new life into that section of the railway line remains on track to be completed by May 12, according to bosses at Network Rail.

The project would slash rail times between Burnley and Manchester, with the service also calling at Blackburn, Accrington, Rosegrove and Todmorden.

As these pictures reveal, work on the curve is continuing to progress rapidly.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “The majority of the heavy engineering work associated with the Todmorden Curve has been carried out and we continue with the installation of the signalling systems.

“Work is progressing well and we are due to complete the project, as previously outlined, on May 12.”

The Todmorden Curve peels off the main line to the north of Stansfield Road and extends for 500 yards to near Burnley Road in Todmorden.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Campaigners have been calling for that section of the line to be reopened for a number of years, with service times between Burnley and Manchester Victoria reduced to only around 45 minutes as a result of trains being able to use the Caldervale Line into the city.

But despite work on the reinstating of the Todmorden Curve nearing completion, there remains a question mark over when the line will be fully operational.

A lack of rolling stock, as revealed by the Lancashire Telegraph last year, means the service is unlikely to be running until later this year at the earliest.