Media centre

Thursday 25 May 2006

MAJOR INVESTMENT FOR PASSENGERS OVER BANK HOLIDAY

Region & Route:

While most of us enjoy the Bank Holiday sunshine, Network Rail engineers will be continuing to work on large scale railway improvements throughout the North West and along the West Coast Main Line to deliver long-term benefits to passengers.  Network Rail Route Director Peter Strachan said: “Large scale engineering work is essential to the future of the railway.  This programme of track renewals, signalling and maintenance work will improve the running of our lines and help us and train operators provide a more reliable service to passengers.  We do large scale projects of this kind over Bank Holiday weekends when fewer people travel, minimising disruption for passengers.” Network Rail has worked closely with train operators to provide alternative transport arrangements for passengers.   Changes to services are as follows:

• The line between Crewe and Stockport is closed while rail enhancements are carried out on the West Coast Main Line and the line is due to re-open in June. A rail replacement service will be in operation.
• On Saturday 27 May and Sunday 28 May the West Coast Main Line is closed between Watford and Birmingham International and Watford and Stafford. Passengers travelling from Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester can travel to Birmingham International via Birmingham New Street but services from Liverpool will not call at New Street station.
• Passengers travelling to London on these dates are advised to travel to Banbury, Oxford or Reading and change for services to London.
• The West Coast Main Line to London is due to re-open after 10am on Monday 29 May. A limited rail replacement service between London and Northampton will be in operation before the line re-opens.
• The Wirral loop line between James Street and Liverpool Lime Street will still be closed whilst track renewals are carried out. The line is due to re-open on Tuesday May 30 and a rail replacement service will be in operation between these stations.
• The line between Grange-over-Sands and Barrow-in-Furness will still be closed whilst the Leven viaduct is replaced. All services from the south will terminate at Grange-over-Sands and a rail replacement service will be in operation for stations to Barrow-in-Furness.

Passengers are advised to check travel details in advance by contacting National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk