Preston to Lancaster trains cancelled for two days this Easter – here's why
Train services between Preston and Lancaster will be disrupted this Easter.
There will be major disruption for rail passengers this Easter, with all trains cancelled between Preston and Lancaster for two days.
No trains will operate between Preston and Lancaster on Saturday, April 4 and Easter Sunday, April 5, due to installation of new signals and power supply equipment. The works are part of a huge £400m upgrade to the West Coast Main Line (WCML), with Network Rail urging passengers to check before they travel.
The West Coast Main Line – the railway that connects London, the Midlands, the North West and Scotland – is undergoing major renewal, including the biggest upgrade to its northern section in more than 50 years. The line carries almost 2,000 passenger trains and 15,000 tonnes of goods every day.
As a result of the works during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Avanti West Coast will operate a special Preston to Carlisle train service via the Settle & Carlisle line, while TransPennine Express (TPE) and Northern services will terminate at Preston, Oxenholme or Grange-over-Sands.
On Easter Monday, April 6, TransPennine Express services will not operate between Carlisle and Edinburgh. The Glasgow to Edinburgh shuttle will also be suspended, and all services from Liverpool will terminate at Preston.
Jake Kelly, Network Rail regional director for North West and Central, said: "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.”
In addition to the Easter work, there will be no trains between Preston and Lancaster from April 11 to April 20 as work continues on the West Coast Main Line. Trains will divert onto the Settle-Carlisle line and trains will run between Oxenholme to Carlisle. Bus replacement services will also be in place.