RAIL passengers will have to cope with more delays and disruption when the line between Bolton and Preston closes at weekends for more than three months this summer.

There will be no services running between Bolton and Preston on any weekend from Saturday June 18 until Sunday October 2 as Network Rail carries out its latest work to prepare for the £1 billion electrification of the railway in our region.

The work in question is taking place on the railway through Chorley and will mean changes to weekend and some mid-week evening train services in the area.

At weekends, train services between Preston and Manchester will be diverted via Wigan, with bus replacement services will be in operation for passengers travelling between Preston and Bolton.

The line between Manchester and Bolton will not be affected by the work and Bolton Railway Station will remain open.

The work at Chorley will involve lowering the track in the area to accommodate new overhead line equipment, which will power electric trains between Manchester and Preston via Bolton from the end of 2017.

It had been hoped that electric trains would be running on our local network by the end of this year — but that date has been pushed back by a year.

Both of Chorley’s platforms are also being rebuilt and the roofs over two subways inside and next to the station will be replaced to support an increase in train services.

A temporary platform will be installed for passengers travelling north towards Preston while platform 1 is rebuilt and extended. Platform 2, which serves trains towards Manchester, is being rebuilt in sections and will remain open to passengers throughout the project.

The electrification project has already led to long periods of disruption for Bolton rail users — including during the major Farnworth Tunnel project.

Rail chiefs insist the disruption is a price worth paying for the benefits of electric trains — when they eventually arrive in the region.

Noel Connolly, senior programme manager for Network Rail, said: “We are investing heavily in the railway as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide passengers with the railway that will meet their needs for many decades to come and help boost the economy across the north of England.

“An electrified railway is part of this and will mean a better, more reliable railway for passengers. To deliver it, significant engineering is required to move and lower the track through Chorley and there is no other option but to close the line at weekends while this is carried out.”

He added: “The work has been carefully planned to cause as little disruption to passengers as possible and we are working closely with the train operators regarding amended services and will keep passengers informed.”

Full travel information can be found at nationalrail.co.uk.

Full details of the changes will be released on May 21.