The scheme to renew 10.5 miles of track between Clitheroe and Hellified was completed on time and on budget at £10.4m., with the track reopened this week.

During the closure, Network Rail staff and contractors clocked up 25,000 man hours of work; 126 engineering trains removed 57,000 tonnes of spoil before bringing in 50,000 tonnes of ballast and 29,000 concrete sleepers to hold 38,000 yards of new rail in place.

The track drainage system was renewed to prevent flooding in heavy rain and work carried out to stabilise embankments and repair bridges.

Work was done to remove speed restrictions that were effecting train performance, and to bring the line up to modern standards with continuously welded rails replacing jointed track.

The line is mainly used for freight trains, but has strategic importance as it links the Settle-Carlisle route to the west coast via Blackburn and the East Lancs Line. It is used to divert trains when work is taking place on the northern end of the west coast main line.

There will also be an increase in the number of trains using it when a new timetable comes into operation in December.

The link also allows Dalesrail summer passenger services and charter and steam excursions to gain access to the Settle-Carlisle, the most scenic line in Britain.