Rail passengers are being reminded by Network Rail to continue following government advice regarding public transport as it carries out 490 projects over the Late May Bank Holiday Weekend to upgrade the railway for passengers.

The advice to passengers is still to find an alternative to trains if they have to travel, such as walking, cycling or driving.

If a journey by train must be made, face masks and social distancing guidelines must be adhered to.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said “While Britain tackles the Coronavirus and social distancing is in place, the railway can carry a fraction of the usual number of passengers. So to make sure there is space for critical workers, please avoid travelling by train unless absolutely necessary. This bank holiday, to make sure our railway is at its very best when we emerge from this pandemic, we are continuing to work on and invest in the rail network to make it more reliable for passengers. That means some journeys may be different, so if you have to travel please check your journey before leaving home.”

The projects to be carried out over this Late May Bank Holiday include:

• A range of work in the Leeds area, including the construction of Platform 0.
  • There will be no train service between Leeds and Harrogate over the Late May Bank Holiday weekend
• The installation of a mile of new track between Fareham and Eastleigh.
  • The line between Fareham and Eastleigh will be closed between 23-29 May, with rail replacement buses in operation.
• Switches and crossings between London Victoria and Herne Hill / Peckham Rye will be renewed
  • No Southern and Thameslink trains will run to or from London Victoria over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
• New trains will be tested in the Bethnal Green area.
  • c2c trains will be diverted to Fenchurch Street
• Switches and re-ballasting work in the Wolverhampton area will be carried out
  • Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry trains will not call at Wolverhampton on Sunday 24th May 2020.
  • Trains in and out of London Euston will be affected by this and other track renewal at Cheddington and between Crewe and Warrington
• Switches will be renewed at Carlisle and earthworks will take place between Preston and Lancaster.
  • This will affect trains between Manchester Airport / Liverpool Lime Street and Preston

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