Train services on the southern part of the West Coast Main Line will be severely disrupted over the Easter bank holiday weekend when London Euston will be completely closed for three days.

From Easter Saturday 19th to Easter Monday, 21st April, no trains will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central, whilst on Friday, 18th April, a reduced timetable will be in operation.

The closure is required to allow Network Rail engineers to carry out major engineering work, including renewing points and improving track drainage, and will include:

• At Northampton, a new rail freight facility will be connected to the West Coast Main Line by commissioning a complex new signalling system. The freight facility will have over 5 million square feet of warehouse space and employ up to 7,000 people.
• At London Euston, some passenger facilities will be improved, including upgrading toilet facilities and enhancing signage around the station.
• Near Hemel Hempstead, over 350 metres of track will be replaced to help improve the reliability of passenger journeys.
• Near Leighton Buzzard, over 200 metres of drainage will be improved to help prevent flooding and enhance resilience against extreme weather conditions.

Whilst London Euston is closed, scheduled Caledonian Sleeper services will start and terminate at London King’s Cross station.

Elsewhere on the West Coast Main Line during the Easter period, improvement work being carried out in Stockport and Carlisle will affect services in the north of England and Scotland, including in Salford, Liverpool and Cumbria.

To avoid disruption, passengers should travel before or after the Easter weekend. Further information about services over Easter can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk/spring

A similar closure of the West Coast Main Line took place last Easter when 1 km of track was replaced between Camden, Bourne End and Colwich.

Amanda Webster-Uz, Network Rail s head of Euston Station operations “There s a significant amount of work happening over the Easter bank holiday to improve the reliability of the railway for both passengers and freight. Whilst the railway to Euston is closed, we re also taking the opportunity to improve the station itself, which will include improving our signage and upgrading our toilet facilities for customers.