MAJOR work on the £1 billion modernisation of the West Coast rail main line is about to start.

The upgrade, which will link Lancashire to Europe via the Channel Tunnel, should improve safety and reduce journey times with up to 40 minutes knocked off the Preston to London run.

The modernisation will also improve freight services with a system enabling HGV trailers to be loaded directly on to wagons.

Contracts for the sophisticated in-cab signalling system to replace track-side signals have been awarded to a consortium of GEC Alsthom and Siemens and Transig.

Work is to start immediately with the development phase expected to take about a year.

The in-cab system has been designed to reduce the risk of collisions and improve information given to passengers during their journey.

The line runs from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London, passing through Preston, Manchester, Crewe and Birmingham and serves a third of the country's population.

It was last modernised in the 1970s but lack of investment since then has left the line in a dilapidated state.

The improvements would mean that trains would be able to travel from Preston directly on to the Channel Tunnel route , although it would be up to Eurostar whether such a service would be run.

The £1 billion programme, which has the subject of controversy for more than ten years, is expected to be financed from cash raised by Railtrack following its Stock Market flotation next month and European funds.

The upgrade is expected to take at least seven years to complete.

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