Milton Keynes passengers planning on using the West Coast main line this Easter are being advised to travel either side of the bank holiday with major improvements to track closing Euston for all but Overground services four days.
Network Rail is investing £7m to upgrade over a kilometre of track at Camden, Bourne End and Colwich Junction as well as switches and crossings (how trains change track) on the West Coast South route to improve future journeys between London and Crewe.
The main focus for engineers will be the final phase to make the rail connection to the freight terminal at Northampton, which first began last year. Freight journeys are expected to start later this year.
The multi million pound project has seen track and signalling systems installed so the freight interchange at Northampton can be operational to services from the West Coast Main Line. When in use, the 5,000 square ft depot is expected to employ up to 7,000 people and save up to 300 lorry movements on the roads every day.
During this last stage of the project all four West Coast main line tracks will need to be closed into Euston.
All trains will start and finish at Milton Keynes between Good Friday (29 March) and Easter Monday (1 April) with rail replacement bus services connecting passengers with other main lines for onward travel from Bedford into London.
From 30 March – 1 April buses will replace trains between Milton Keynes and Northampton.
With longer journey times, busier trains and rail replacement buses in operation during the railway closure, passengers are being advised that the best days to travel are Thursday 28 March and Tuesday 2 April.
To plan journeys in advance people are being urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk.
