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Thursday 9 Jul 2026

West Coast Main Line passengers urged to plan ahead for railway disruption over the coming days

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: West Coast Mainline South

Passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line via Northampton, including to and from London Euston are being urged to plan their journeys in advance as engineering work, industrial action and hot weather are expected to affect travel over the coming days.

On Sunday 12 July, no trains will run on the West coast Main Line between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby via Northampton until 7pm while Network Rail carries out planned vegetation management work. Summer is when vegetation grows its fastest. Railway teams carry out planned clearance to keep signals visible to train drivers, maintain safe sightlines and keep trains running reliably. Rail replacement buses will operate between Milton Keynes Central and Northampton and between Rugby and Northampton, and journeys will take longer than usual.

During the closure, London Northwestern Railway services between London Euston and Northampton will operate between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central only, while services between Birmingham and Northampton will operate between Birmingham New Street and Rugby only. Some services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street, and between London Euston and Crewe, will also be diverted and will not call at Northampton or Long Buckby.

Passengers travelling on London Northwestern Railway services on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July are also being advised to check before travelling due to industrial action. A significantly reduced service will operate across parts of the network, with amended timetables in place and there will be an early finish to London Northwestern Railway services from Euston on Friday.

With warm weather forecast for the end of the week and throughout the weekend, customers are urged to plan ahead as stations, trains and replacement bus services may be busier than normal. Passengers travelling to and from events at Wembley Stadium over the weekend are also advised to allow extra time for their journeys and check travel information before setting off.

Gary Walsh, Network Rail's West Coast South route director, said:

"Anyone travelling by rail over the coming days is encouraged to plan ahead and check before they travel. On Sunday, engineering work between Wolverton and Northampton means trains won't be able to run between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby via Northampton until the evening, with replacement buses in operation. I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while this essential work takes place.

"We're also encouraging passengers travelling on Friday and Saturday to check their journeys carefully due to industrial action affecting London Northwestern Railway services. Timetables have been amended and will include an early finish on the Friday and some routes will have a significantly reduced service, so planning ahead is the best way to avoid disruption."

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway, said: "We advise our customers to check before they travel this weekend due to the impact of industrial action and engineering work on our network. Some routes will have no service on Friday and Saturday, and rail replacement will be in operation on some routes on Sunday. Customers who are travelling should plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."

Passengers can check the latest journey information through National Rail Enquiries or their train operator's website before travelling.