ENGINEERING teams working through night to transform Bolton railway station have completed the first stages of their project.

The town centre station is currently shut for two weeks to allow Network Rail to carry out a variety of works vital to the electrification of the Manchester to Preston line.

Once the massive £200 million project is completed later this year, electric trains will pass through the town for the first time and services to Scotland will return.

Transport bosses say that significant progress has already been made — including a resurfacing of platform three and the creation of a new emergency footbridge.

Iain Chapman, programme manager for Network Rail, said: “We started work in the early hours of Saturday, August 12 and have already made great progress.

“The main section of a new emergency exit footbridge has been lifted and we have excavated and waterproofed Weston Street Bridge.

“The team are working 24/7 from now until Sunday, August 27 and are dedicated to finishing in time for the first train service on Bank Holiday Monday.

“I would like to remind people to please plan your journey before you travel as the majority of train services will not travel through Bolton station and there will be replacement bus services in operation.”

Before the station re-opens on August 28, the hundreds of engineers will be completing the restoration of the disused platform five and renewing 1,100m of track.

The station had a fifth platform until the early 1990s, before the track was concreted over.

Cllr David Chadwick, the council’s cabinet member for transport, added: “This is absolutely fantastic.

“I know the closure is an inconvenience to the public and we apologise for that, but this is the last push towards the electrification of the line between Manchester and Preston.

“Once it is done our trains will be operating at higher speeds, they will be more energy efficient, and able to stop and start quicker.

“Hopefully we will get some of the more modern stock of trains coming through Bolton.

“One of the things I am very much looking forward to is the return of the Transpennine Express trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow coming through Bolton again.”

REVEALED: Commuters face transport nightmare as Bolton train station shuts for TWO WEEKS in August

During the two-week closure, bus replacement services are running from outside the station.

Passengers have also been advised to use park and ride Metrolink services available at Bury, Radcliffe and Whitefield.

The only train services still running to and from the station during the blockade are between Bolton and Clitheroe.