Network Rail has released drone footage of Easter track upgrades on the West Coast Main Line, and has also published photographs of the new toilets at London Euston station.

It carried out these improvement works over the Easter public holiday weekend, resulting in disruption to passenger services.

Hundreds of engineers from Network Rail and its contractors worked at multiple locations over the bank holiday weekend.

The work included:

• replacing switches and crossings at Kensal Green in North London
• strengthening the railway embankment to prevent landslips in Harlesden
• installing new track and ballast near Tring
• overhauling railway drainage to prevent lines flooding near Leighton Buzzard
• re-tensioning overhead power lines at London Euston
• upgrading London Overground power supply between Watford and Euston
• commissioning signalling for a new rail freight interchange at Northampton.

To enable the work to be carried out safely and effectively, trains did not run in or out of Euston station for three days over the Easter weekend.

Network Rail took the opportunity of the closure to overhaul the toilets on the station concourse. Workers upgraded the male, female and accessible toilets, fitting new cubicles, urinals and soap dispensers.

They also replaced fixtures, refreshed the décor, and carried out a deep clean of all areas.

Network Rail workers also upgraded signage in the station, with the aim of helping passengers to find their way around the station more easily.

Euston station reopened today (Tuesday, 22 April).

Network Rail is alerting passengers that further upgrade work will take place over the next bank holiday weekend, from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 May.

Fewer trains will run, and buses may replace trains for parts of some journeys. London Euston station will be closed on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May.

“We’ve invested millions of pounds to improve future journeys on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line this Easter, at a time of year when we know passenger numbers are lower so we can minimise disruption to one of the country’s most important rail routes.

“In the short term we know some passengers were disrupted and I’d like to thank them for their patience if their travel plans were affected over the bank holiday. In the long term though, our ongoing investments will see smoother and more reliable journeys and better facilities for passengers travelling to and from London Euston.”

Brian Paynter, Network Rail Capital Delivery head of track