Media centre

Tuesday 15 Sep 2026

West Coast Main Line passengers urged to check before travelling in October

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: West Coast Mainline South

Passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line are being advised to plan ahead and check before they travel as railway improvements will mean changes to journeys across two weekends in October.

Network Rail is delivering track renewals between Rugby and Stafford as part of a long-term programme to improve reliability on Britain's busiest mixed-use railway. At the same time, HS2 construction activity will take place outside London Euston as preparations continue for Britain’s new high speed railway.

To allow the work to take place safely, services on the route will be amended on the following weekends:

• Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 October 2026
• Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October 2026

During both weekends, no trains will run between Stafford and Rugby via Nuneaton. Avanti West Coast and London NorthWestern will run a reduced service to an amended timetable:

• Avanti West Coast will divert three trains per hour via the West Midlands
• Services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street will be extended to Liverpool Lime Street every two hours
• Trent Valley stations between Rugby and Stafford will be served by rail replacement bus services
• London Northwestern passengers are encouraged to travel on alternative services between Stafford and Crewe to complete their journeys

Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and check before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk.

Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director said: "The West Coast Main Line is one of Britain's most important railways, carrying millions of passengers and freight every year. Renewing ageing track now will help deliver a more reliable railway with fewer delays for years to come.

"We're grateful to passengers for their patience while this essential work takes place and would encourage anyone travelling to plan ahead and check their journey."

Chris Liptrot, Operations Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “While Network Rail carry out this essential work, we’ll be operating a reduced timetable and journeys to and from London Euston will take longer. We strongly advise customers making journeys during this time to plan ahead and check the Avanti West Coast website before travelling.” 

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway, said: “I want to thank our customers for their patience while Network Rail carries out these important works which are set to improve reliability long-term. Rail replacement buses will be in operation between Rugby and Stafford, and customers are encouraged to check before they travel and leave extra time for their journeys when travelling on the affected dates.”