Avanti West Coast will divert its Class 805 Evero bi-modes over the historic Settle to Carlisle line in January 2026, keeping passengers on trains during a major closure of the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
From 1–14 January 2026, Network Rail will block the WCML between Preston and Carlisle to replace Clifton Bridge, the 1960s-built structure that carries the railway over the M6 near Penrith. The £60m renewal is needed because the existing bridge can only accommodate one train at a time, creating a longstanding bottleneck on the route.
During the two-week blockade, Avanti plans to operate a roughly two-hourly non-stop shuttle between Preston and Carlisle via the Settle & Carlisle. This will be the first time in over a decade that West Coast intercity services have used the 73-mile line as a diversionary route.
The move follows a successful proving run in August 2025, when a 10-car Class 805 worked over the route to test timings and performance. The Evero fleet, introduced in 2024 on North Wales and West Midlands services, is dual-mode, allowing operation under 25kV AC or diesel power. With the Settle & Carlisle lacking overhead wires, the trains will operate throughout in diesel mode.
Passengers travelling between London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool and Scotland will instead be advised to use East Coast Main Line services, while Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith will be served by replacement buses. A full temporary timetable is due to be published in early October.
Avanti says some adjustments will be made on existing diagrams as units are redeployed to cover the diversion. Customers are advised to check journey details before travelling.
Avanti West Coast Managing Director Andy Mellors said the aim was to avoid lengthy bus journeys:
“Our plan to run Evero trains on the Settle to Carlisle line is all about giving our passengers the best experience during January’s extensive engineering work. We know customers prefer to stay on trains where possible, and our flexible fleet makes that viable.”
Network Rail North West Route Director Phil James added:
“We’re investing £60m in a new bridge to take the West Coast Main Line over the M6, keeping passengers, freight, and road users in Cumbria safe for generations. This diversionary route is a testament to industry collaboration.”
The works form part of a wider West Coast Modernisation programme, a long-term investment to renew key infrastructure between Cheshire and Scotland.
For enthusiasts, the use of Evero units over the Settle & Carlisle offers a rare opportunity to see modern intercity stock traversing one of Britain’s most celebrated scenic routes, with Ribblehead Viaduct and Ais Gill summit likely to provide particularly striking photographs.
