Network Rail urges passengers who have to travel over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend to check their journeys as track improvement work is carried out in Yorkshire: Network Rail urges passengers who have to travel over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend to check their journeys as track improvement work is carried out in West Yorkshire

Monday 4 May 2020

Network Rail urges passengers who have to travel over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend to check their journeys as track improvement work is carried out in Yorkshire

Region & Route:
Eastern
  • People who must travel over the Early May Bank Holiday should check their journeys and plan ahead.
  • Essential work to upgrade the track will affect services in Yorkshire on Sunday, 10 May, with no trains able to call at Wakefield Westgate station.
  • A reduced timetable continues to be in operation for those who rely on rail services.

Network Rail is urging passengers who need to use train services over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend to check before they travel as track improvement work takes place in West Yorkshire, meaning there are further changes to services. 

On Sunday, 10 May, Network Rail engineers will carry out work to replace the track between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds. This will create a more reliable and resilient railway, which is essential, so services can continue moving passengers who must travel. It also means that vital food and medical supplies can be transported to supermarkets and hospitals via freight services.

In line with Government advice, Network Rail continues to proceed with engineering work that is required to maintain a safe and operational railway. This work will also upgrade the railway and improve journeys for passengers in future.

In order for the track improvements to be carried out safely, the line will be closed between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds, via Outwood on Sunday, 10 May. There will be the following changes to services: 

  • No trains will be able to call at Wakefield Westgate station.
  • To keep those who cannot work from home moving, diversionary routes and bus replacement services will be in place between Doncaster/Knottingley/Moorthorpe and Leeds and between Wakefield Westgate and Sheffield/Leeds/Doncaster.
  • Passengers are urged to continue following social distancing guidelines on these services and stay at least two metres apart.

Passengers who have to use the railway are strongly advised to check via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator before travelling. People are asked to please stay at home where possible to help protect the NHS and save lives.

Matt Rice, Route Director for North and East for Network Rail, said: “Passengers should only travel over the Bank Holiday weekend if they have to, and we advise them to check their individual journey via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.

“This work to improve the track between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds is vital to allow a safe and reliable railway to operate, so that people who must travel by rail are able to do so, and so vital supplies can continue to be transported across the country.

“We will continue to follow social distancing guidelines from Public Health England whilst this work is carried out and would like to thank people for following the Government’s advice.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators in Yorkshire, said: “The track improvement work being carried out by Network Rail is important, so essential services can continue during these challenging times. It will also benefit passengers in future, bringing a more reliable railway.

“We are urging passengers to continue following the Government advice to only travel when they have to. If you cannot work from home and have to use train services, please check your journey via National Rail Enquiries or with your train operator.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

There will be the following changes to services on Monday, 10 May: 

  • CrossCountry services will be diverted. Replacement bus services will be in place between Sheffield and Wakefield Westgate and between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds.
  • East Midlands Railway services between London St Pancras and Leeds will be diverted after Sheffield. Passengers travelling to or from Wakefield Westgate should use alternative train or bus services.
  • LNER will run a reduced service to and from Leeds, with trains being diverted between Leeds and Doncaster. A replacement bus service will be in place between Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate.
  • Buses will replace Northern services between Doncaster/Knottingley/Moorthorpe and Leeds.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Kathryn Muffett
Media Relations Manager
Network Rail
01904 383180
kathryn.muffett@networkrail.co.uk

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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

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