In the early hours of Sunday, February 23rd, seven railway workers abseiled down the Grade II* listed Stockport Viaduct as part of a £1.1 million renovation project.
Constructed in 1840, the viaduct supports nearly 400 trains daily, connecting the West Coast Main Line with Manchester Piccadilly.
Last year, Network Rail initiated a project to clear overgrown vegetation, remove graffiti, and perform extensive repairs on the viaduct's 11 million bricks. Now, all 26 spans of the viaduct have been meticulously restored.
Overnight, the team used rope access equipment to navigate the viaduct's piers and complete essential restoration work.
Drone footage and body-worn cameras have captured the viaduct from a fresh, unique perspective.
Michael Lally, Network Rail Works Delivery manager, said: “The team have done a fantastic job this week carrying out important repairs to the viaduct arches that cross the M60 in Stockport.
“This is the final stage of the project, which started last year. The recent work means the overall appearance of the viaduct is much improved, but it also reduces the risk of damage caused by overgrown vegetation and graffiti.
“Managing plant growth on viaducts such as this is important in maintaining train performance as trees and shrubs can obscure signals and interfere with the overhead lines that power trains.”
To carry out this work safely, from Monday 17 February – Sunday 2 March 2025 the M60 is closed between J27 and J1 in both directions. For 13 nights, the road under the viaduct will close at 10pm and open at 6am.
The work to restore this railway piece of heritage, comes as 2025’s Railway 200 celebrations are underway, a year-long programme of activities and events to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway.
Image & Video credits: Network Rail
