Railway closed for 9 days from 23 October

Part of the Calder Valley rail line between Rochdale and Hebden Bridge will be closed for nine days from Saturday (23 October) for essential upgrade work inside one of the world’s oldest railway tunnels.

During this time, rail replacement buses will be in operation between Rochdale and Hebden Bridge and at weekends, buses will also replace trains between Manchester and Rochdale.

Network Rail is replacing track through the 180-year-old Summit Tunnel on the Calder Valley line as part of a £2m Great North Rail Project investment. More than 3km of track across both railway lines will be replaced inside the 2.6-kilometre-long tunnel, built between 1838 and 1841 as part of the Manchester and Leeds railway.

The essential work will take nine days to complete and requires the full closure of the tracks.

Rail replacement buses will be in operation between Saturday 23 and Sunday 31 October to keep passengers on the move between Rochdale and Hebden Bridge.

At weekends, buses will also replace trains between Manchester and Rochdale as well as between Hebden Bridge, Burnley Manchester Road and Accrington stations.

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October

Buses will replace trains between:

• Hebden Bridge and Manchester Victoria (incl Rochdale borough stations)
• Hebden Bridge and Accrington/Preston
• Manchester Victoria and Burnley Manchester Road

Monday 25 to Friday 29 October

Buses will replace trains between:

• Rochdale and Todmorden
• Rochdale and Burnley

Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October

Buses will replace trains between:

• Hebden Bridge and Manchester Victoria (incl Rochdale borough stations)
• Hebden Bridge and Accrington/Preston
• Manchester Victoria and Burnley Manchester Road

Check before you travel

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on the National Rail Enquiries station information pages.