Network Rail is set to undertake more than 630 projects across Britain's railway during the early and late May Bank holidays. These projects are designed to keep the majority of the network open for travel as usual while making significant improvements to the railway infrastructure.
Railways are usually quieter during weekends, particularly on key commuter routes into major cities, providing an opportunity to improve our railway whilst minimising disruption for passengers and freight users. While most projects can take place over one or two days, bank holidays give three clear days for more significant improvements.
This May, the most notable projects are:
Early May Bank Holiday (3-5 May)
London Euston and Milton Keynes Central: There will be no trains running to or from these stations on Sunday 4 and Monday, 5 May due to embankment repairs, track renewal, and drainage works.
London Victoria: Track renewals, re-signalling, maintenance, and structures work at Battersea means services to and from London Victoria will be disrupted. Platforms 1-8 will be closed, and no Southeastern services will run to or from the station between Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May. Services will be diverted via London Bridge or London Cannon Street. Gatwick Express services will operate on a reduced timetable, along with reduced Southern services to Brighton.
Cambridge and Audley End: Works to install new signalling equipment and prepare for the second phase of commissioning for the Cambridge re-signalling project ahead of the opening of Cambridge South station in early 2026 means there will be no rail services between Cambridge and Audley End from Saturday 3 to Monday, 5 May. Rail replacement buses will operate between the two stations, and London Stansted CrossCountry will operate buses between Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
Late May Bank Holiday (24-26 May)
London St Pancras International and Bedford: Works to upgrade the overhead lines between Bedford and St Pancras, allowing bi-mode diesel-electric trains to run up to 125mph, means there will be no train services between London St Pancras International and Bedford on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May. East Midlands Railway services will start and terminate at Bedford, and Thameslink services will start and terminate at St Albans and Harpenden.
Nuneaton and Stafford: Due to structures work, HS2 works, and earthworks taking place from Saturday 24 to Friday, 30 May, a reduced timetable will be in operation on Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains, and CrossCountry services. Rail replacement buses will also operate.
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail's director of system operations, said:
"This May, thousands of workers will be out in force as we continue to invest in making Britain's railway more reliable, with £133m worth of essential upgrades taking place across the two Bank Holiday weekends.
"While the vast majority of the network will remain open for business as usual, we're encouraging passengers planning to use the railway to check their journeys in advance.
"When we close parts of the railway, we work hard to maximise that time—with over 630 vital pieces of work being carried out – and keep disruption to a minimum for passengers and freight customers."
Image credit: Network Rail and iStock
