Media centre

Wednesday 4 Dec 2024

Northampton flooding repairs: passengers thanked after railway fully reopens

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Further train services through Northampton station have been able to resume following major repairs to waterlogged railway equipment which was damaged during Storm Bert.

Network Rail has thanked passengers for their patience today (Wednesday 4 December), after the railway fully reopened following vital repair work to the flood-damaged railway in the Northampton station area.

The River Nene burst its banks in the early hours of Monday 25 November, leaving tracks, signals, and over 200 pieces of critical railway equipment submerged for several hours. Specialist teams from Network Rail worked around the clock to clear floodwater, repair damage, and rigorously test the signalling systems to ensure the railway could safely reopen as quickly as possible.

Thanks to the dedication and swift action of rail engineers who’ve been working around the clock since the flooding, further services have now returned. Final repairs to the damaged signalling equipment are planned to take place overnight this weekend. Passengers are encouraged to check for the latest journey information at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator before travelling.

Gary Walsh, route director for Network Rail’s West Coast South route, said:
“We’re pleased to confirm that the railway through Northampton station is now fully open, following last Monday’s severe flooding caused by Storm Bert. Our teams have worked tirelessly to repair and test water-damaged equipment, ensuring services can run safely. I’m very grateful for passengers’ patience during this challenging time.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway, added: “I would like to thank our customers for their patience while we worked with Network Rail to reopen Northampton station and restore train services. The flooding significantly impacted our network, and I am sorry for the disruption this has caused to our customers.

“Due to damage sustained by some of our trains during the flood a small number of our services will be temporarily formed of fewer carriages than usual while repairs are carried out. I urge passengers to continue to check their journeys before setting out.”

Passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest journey information.