A SERIES of meetings is being held in Bolton to keep people on track about the electrification of the railway line and possible disruptions.

Drop in events are being held this month and next for people to find out more about the works planned on the railway line between Preston and Manchester.

The work is part of Network Rail’s £1bn plus Great North Rail Project to complete the upgrade and electrification between the two cities via Bolton.

The company is warning that for safety reasons some work will be carried out at night time when trains aren’t running, this includes noisy piling work to install foundations, as well as the steel masts which will carry electric wires to power greener and quieter electric trains from December 2017.

New rail lines in Bolton were due to be switched on in December last year, with the prospect of bigger, better electric trains arriving in the town early in 2017.

But Network Rail said the Bolton electrification will now not be brought in until December, 2017, after “lessons were learned” from other similar schemes.

Noel Connolly, head of programme management for Network rail said passengers will benefits from the work once it is completed.

He said: “This work forms part of our railway upgrade plan and will deliver better, greener and more efficient services for passengers in the north.

“I appreciate that the work could be disruptive, so I’d like to thank local residents for their patience while we carry this out.

“We will take all possible measures to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.”

Residents will meet Network Rail staff who will be on hand to answer questions and provide more detail about the working being carried out at the drop in meetings.

The sessions are taking place on: Tuesday March 21 at Adlington Cricket Club, Huyton Road, Adlington; on Tuesday, March 28 March at Lostock Parish Centre in Tempest Road; Wednesday, March 29 at the Railway Club, Green Lane, Great Lever; Tuesday, April 4 at Farnworth Baptist Church, The Well, Trafford Street, Farnworth.

All meetings are due to start at 4pm and will continue until 7pm each

day.

Residents who would like additional information can call Network Rail’s 24-hour helpline on 03457 114141.