Network Rail has announced a second bridge is to be rebuilt as part of its railway electrification programme.

The overpass on Oldham Road in Ashton-under-Lyne is to be made higher to accommodate the placing of electricity powerlines underneath. It is one of four crossings that need to be reconstructed over the next 18 months, as part of the £400 million scheme.

Work will begin on March 1st and is expected to last until July 31st. Local residents are invited to a consultation meeting on how the work will affect them at Ashton town hall in February. 

Jon Clee, senior sponsor for Network Rail, stated that the electrification process was "an important part of our commitment to provide a better railway. It means we can boost capacity and provide more seats for passengers while reducing the cost of running the railway."

The project is being delivered in five phases, with the first electric trains expected to run by December 2018.