Network Rail is reminding passengers to check before travel across the UK this Easter bank holiday as a £75.5 million programme of engineering works gets underway to improve reliability and performance.

The largest upgrades form part of a wider £400 million investment in the West Coast Main Line, Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway.

Key projects include £8.4 million of track renewals at Willesden, £8 million of new overhead power equipment near Wembley, and a £6.6 million scheme to waterproof a bridge at Ledburn near Leighton Buzzard.

Signalling improvements worth more than £7 million will also be delivered in the area, while Harrow & Wealdstone station will see £5.8 million of platform and canopy upgrades.

As a result, there will be no trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes from Good Friday until Wednesday 8 April, with services resuming on Thursday 9 April. Some routes will be diverted, and replacement buses will operate.

Across the country, thousands of engineers will carry out more than 270 upgrade projects during the bank holiday.

Passengers are advised to check their journeys in advance as the work helps create a more reliable railway for millions of travellers.

“We know how important Bank Holidays are – particularly at Easter, when families and friends come together – and that’s why we work hard to keep as much of the network open as possible while carrying out these vital upgrades. 

“However, Bank Holidays are also among the least busy times on the railway, and the four-day period at Easter gives us a valuable opportunity to complete projects that simply can’t be delivered during a normal weekend. This ensures we maximise the time our teams are out working on the tracks.  

“So passengers will see some changes and it’s a good idea for people to check before they travel.” 

Jake Kelly, Network Rail regional director for North West and Central.