The West Coast main line between London Euston and Scotland has reopened after major parts of its were closed for engineering works over the Early May bank holiday.
Network Rail carried out major improvements at various locations across the North West, the West Midlands, and the southern end of the line on the route into London Euston.
Together, the improvements will provide more reliable journeys for passengers and freight services.
The West Coast main line is Europe's busiest mixed use railway, and from Saturday, 4 to Monday, 6 May, Network Rail deployed dozens of engineers to carry out major track and drainage upgrades quickly and safely.
Among the improvements were:
- Between Coventry and Birmingham, 400 metres of railway drainage was replaced in the Berkswell area.
- At Wembley, Leighton Buzzard, and Stafford, major track improvements were carried out.
- Between Warrington and Wigan, almost 1,000 metres of new drainage was installed at Golborne.
- At Crewe, major upgrades were made to the track, overhead electric wires, and drainage
- Between Wigan and Bolton, work continued to electrify the line.
- In Buckinghamshire, work continued with preparations for the construction of a new 350-metres long viaduct that will carry HS2 over the existing railway at Wendover.
Further disruption to services is likely between today, Tuesday, 7 May and Saturday, 11 May due to industrial action by the ASLEF union. Anyone intending to travel this week should plan their journeys in advance and consult www.nationalrail.co.uk/industrialaction for more information.
Network Rail is planning further work over the Spring bank holiday weekend from Saturday, 25 May to Monday, 27 May when improvements to the track will be made at Milton Keynes, Stafford, and Crewe, and between Lancaster and Carlisle.
On Saturday, 25 and Sunday, 26 May work will be carried out between Great Missenden and Aylesbury that will affect Chiltern Railways services.
Detailed information and travel advice is available at www.nationalrail.co.uk and train operators.
Thank you to passengers for their patience over the bank holiday weekend while we carried out major track and drainage upgrades to our railway. We only close Euston when absolutely necessary and the track improvements that took place this weekend could not have been delivered while the station was open.
As we look ahead to the late May bank holiday, our advice is to plan ahead and always check before you travel with National Rail Enquiries or your train operator.”
James Dean, Network Rail's passenger director
