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Sunday 8 Mar 2020

UPDATE: Euston passengers urged to check before they travel on Monday

Region & Route:

National

• thinned-out timetable in operation between Watford Junction and Euston
• services as far afield as Blackpool, Manchester and Birmingham affected
• first of two nights of repairs to South Kenton overhead wire damage begins at 9pm tonight
• rail industry advice to passengers is “check before you travel"

Train passengers travelling to or from London Euston tomorrow (Monday 9 March) are urged to check before they travel as an amended timetable will be in operation.

Fewer trains than normal will be running between Watford Junction and Euston on the West Coast main line following overnight repairs, starting at 9pm tonight (Sunday 8 March), to damaged overhead electric wires.

Tomorrow’s reduced train plan will impact some services between Euston and Tring, Blackpool North, Birmingham and Manchester. 

One thousand metres of overhead wires were brought down at South Kenton, on the approach to Euston, on Saturday (7 March).

Network Rail engineers will be working through the night with the aim of minimising disruption to services on Monday morning. Owing to the extent of the damage, there will not be enough time to complete the repairs in one night, which is why a slightly reduced timetable will be in operation on Monday morning. 

Earlier today (Sunday), Network Rail advised passengers to complete their journeys this evening before the repair work starts at 9pm and the West Coast main line closes to trains at South Kenton.

The work is set to finish at 6am tomorrow (Monday). Further work to repair the damage is likely to be needed on Monday night.

James Dean, director for Network Rail’s West Coast Mainline South route, said: “We are sorry to passengers who have either already been affected by this dewirement, or whose journeys might be impacted on Monday.

“Our engineers will be working tirelessly from 9pm this evening to repair the wires, but because of the sheer amount of damage there is, unfortunately they won’t be able to complete the job in one night. This means some disruption will continue into Monday. Passengers should continue to check their journeys with their train operator or via National Rail Enquiries.”