Did you know that 2025 marks the 200th birthday of modern railways in the UK? If you ask us, they’re looking pretty good for it – well, mostly. But after all that time, some vintage British rails are in need of a bit of TLC.
A heritage railway in Bury, Lancashire, is one such victim of time. Originally built in the 1800s, a viaduct on the route is known by locals to be both gorgeous and crumbling. The last time any repairs were carried out on the line was in 1932, which was, needless to say, a long time ago.
The Higher Woodhill Viaduct is owned by East Lancashire Railways, and sits right on the edge of Burrs Country Park, so it gets seen by a lot of people, and it’s worth keeping in good shape.
Now, £1.3 million has been pledged to the stretch of rail in grants and government funding, and ‘essential’ work will finally begin this spring. A total of £1 million is coming straight from Westminster, while the rest has been raised by local councils and donations from local residents and businesses. Although there’s no immediate danger of collapse, the money will ensure the future of the bridge and allow it to continue to bear the weight of heavy heritage steam trains.
The news has been welcomed by the local community, including local MP James Frith, who said: ‘The news… will allow essential maintenance on the Woodhill Viaduct to keep the East Lancashire Railway running for years to come.
‘The East Lancashire Railway is a special part of our town’s heritage and culture, and I know everyone in Bury will be pleased that with this funding the future of the railway is secured.’
Mike Kelly, who is the chairman of the East Lancashire Railway, also welcomed the investment, explaining: ‘There are a great many important Victorian structures along our 12 miles of railway, which thousands of our visitors travel over or under each year, but don’t often see their splendour.
‘This award is a… massive vote of confidence for our dedicated volunteers and staff to help secure the railway’s infrastructure for years to come.’
Train travel with Time Out
Loco for locomotives? In other recent news from our railways, Eurostar ticket prices could be more affordable from April, these three northern English cities will soon be linked by more frequent train services, one of the UK’s busiest train routes is getting 6 million more seats, and more strike action is planned for the new year.
ICYMI: Birmingham is officially one of Time Out’s best places to visit in Europe in 2025.
Plus: This dazzlingly futuristic football stadium is coming to England.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.