Infrastructure manager Network Rail reopened the line on April 16 following a 22-week closure for resignalling, electrification and track remodelling at Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton-le-Fylde and Blackpool North stations. The project involved relaying 11km of track and 50km of signalling cable.

Since the line reopened regional operator Northern has been running just one train per hour between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport via Preston, with other services replaced by buses. An hourly service is operating on the Blackpool South branch.

Full services will resume with the start of the new timetable on May 20, with commercial electric operation due to start the following day.