Back in January 2024, WTL Group was awarded a seven-figure contract by Kier Transportation to prepare the full route for new overhead line equipment as part of the Wigan to Bolton electrification upgrade. The brief was clear and time-critical: enable energisation by delivering comprehensive vegetation clearance along a 21km live railway corridor.
The works required the removal of trees and low-lying vegetation across the entire route, carried out within a fully operational rail environment. Delivery was planned and executed by our in-house teams and project managers, working across day shifts, night works and weekend possessions to maintain programme certainty while protecting rail operations and public safety.
The objective was straightforward — get the route ready, on time, and to the standard required for energisation. Through detailed planning, tight coordination and disciplined delivery across multiple possessions, the full scope of works awarded to us was completed safely, within the required programme and on budget. Every element of the package was delivered as planned, despite the pressures of live rail working and compressed timescales.
Alongside the contractual delivery, the project also presented an opportunity to create wider value beyond the site boundary. Throughout the works, significant volumes of woodchip and logs were generated and removed from site. Rather than disposing of this material, we chose to donate it to local schools, hospices and community allotments. This was undertaken entirely at our own cost and forms part of our ongoing commitment to social value and responsible working.
The feedback received from local recipients reinforced why these decisions matter. Seeing materials reused within the community, rather than wasted, is something we take genuine pride in.
Projects like this demonstrate what can be achieved through strong planning, experienced teams and a clear sense of responsibility — not just to the programme, but to the wider environment and communities affected by the work. If you have a rail or infrastructure project approaching and need a contractor that can deliver safely and reliably under pressure, you know where to find us.