As various engineering works take place over the early May bank holiday weekend, passengers are being reminded to check their trains before they travel as some services may be amended, diverted or cancelled because of engineering works that will be taking place.

London Euston to Birmingham New Street

Trains between two of the UK’s major cities will be subject to amendments and bus replacement services from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May, as Network Rail engineers undertake drainage improvement upgrades and track maintenance in the vicinity of Berkswell.

London Euston Station will be closed entirely on Sunday 5th May as track is replaced as part of the upgrade works outside the station, with additional track maintenance being also carried out at Wembley, Leighton Buzzard and Stafford.

This means all trains that normally run into Euston will terminate and start at Milton Keynes. All these works will affect trains on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line.

From Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May: Some trains will be diverted between Coventry and Birmingham New Street, while others will be replaced by a replacement bus service.

Sunday 5th May: Buses will replace trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes.

London Marylebone to Aylesbury

Continuing works HS2 works will take place between Saturday 4th and Monday 6th May.

Foundation works have been progressing in recent months, ready for the building of the 350 metre long Wendover viaduct which will cross the Aylesbury line.

Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May: Buses will replace trains between Great Missenden and Aylesbury

Advice to Passengers

Train companies that will see their services affected by these works are Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway.

All of whom, along with Network Rail, are reiterating to passengers to check their services before they travel over the early May bank holiday.

As fewer trains will run, passengers should expect crowded conditions on the trains that are operating and longer journey times for those who need to use a replacement bus service.

Along with the above, strike action is also taking place from Monday 6 and Saturday 11 May by the ASLEF union. There will be major changes and fewer trains running on most routes during the week after the bank holiday.

Martin Colmey, operations director for Network Rail’s Central route, said: “We have been making great progress on major rail improvements this spring and I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience while we carry out more must-do work between 4 and 6 May.

“We have seen extremely wet weather this winter and the replacement of the drainage between Birmingham and Coventry will help to keep train services reliable for both passengers and freight. The work at Great Missenden is vital as part of the ongoing construction of HS2.

“We know there is never an ideal time to shut the railway but bank holidays continue to be the least disruptive time for us to carry out this essential work. Our advice is to plan ahead and check before you travel with National Rail Enquiries or your train operator.”

For those that do travel, the latest travel information can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk.