Lancashire rail users face disruption on West Coast main line

Network Rail is making major improvements on the inter-city railway between London Euston and Scotland between April and August.

Over Spring and Summer 2021, it is delivering a major programme of improvements that will make passenger journeys more reliable and ease pressure on the West Coast main line by adding more railway capacity.

The work is part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan and HS2 Phase One, and will be delivered over weekends, bank holidays and extended closures of the railway.

Two lines into London Euston station will be closed for two six-week periods to enable the new HS2 terminus to be built: from April 2 to May 17, and July 17 to August 31.

Weekend work will also take place.

Most train services will continue running while this work takes place, but there will be some timetable and platform alterations.

Other essential rail upgrades,including on the Preston to Lancaster stretch, are planned mainly over bank holiday weekends which are :

April 2 to 5 (Easter bank holiday)

April 4 to June 4 (Scotland rail renewal work over 10 weekends)

May 1 to 3 (early May bank holiday)

May 29 to 31 (late May bank holiday)

August 28 to 30 (Summer bank holiday).

These upgrades include:

Major track renewals between Rugby – Birmingham, Crewe – Warrington, Preston – Lancaster, and Carstairs – Carlisle; and further work on the Bletchley flyover as part of the East West Rail project.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Improving infrastructure along the West Coast main line is vital to improve journeys for passengers by providing a safe, reliable railway.

"London Euston is a major interchange station and the gateway to the UK’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight rail route. HS2 will provide much-needed capacity and ease pressure on the West Coast main line."

Network rail added that the rail industry had worked closely together to combine this work at Euston and other West Coast rail upgrades as much as possible to minimise disruption to passengers.

More information about the impact of this work on local timetables will be available closer to the time.