A father and son duo have been helping Network Rail to upgrade the railway and keep critical supplies and key workers moving across Britain.
Howerd Kernahan, 50, a senior programme manager for Network Rail, and his track worker son Rafael, 18, are part of an engineering team from the Central Rail Systems Alliance (Network Rail, Balfour Beatty and Atkins) that has been improving the Wigan-Kirkby line over three weekends.
Their team laid 1km of new track through the 172-year-old Upholland tunnel, in West Lancashire, using 3,000 sleepers and 3,000 tonnes of ballast in the process, as well as improving trackside drainage. The line is used by both passengers and freight trains moving between Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
Howerd, a former British Army captain from Southport, Merseyside, said: “I strongly believe it is important I’m out there on track leading my team at this difficult time. I feel honoured that my son and I can be part of the wider railway family doing our bit to keep critical supplies and key workers moving in Britain’s hour of need.”
He added: “Throughout this job we have all worn protective equipment, including masks, and wherever possible have kept two metres between us in line with government social-distancing guidance.
