Network Rail are reminding passengers that whilst there are £90m worth of upgrade works occurring over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, the vast majority of the UK rail network will remain open for business as usual.
These renovative works will see key infrastructural development being conducted, that will improve passenger journeys and experiences whilst traversing the network.
Bank holidays are admittedly an inconvenient time for these types of projects to be attempted, due to the disruptions they can cause to passenger journeys. Network Rail is keen to minimise disruption for leisure travellers as far as possible, especially given the strong recovery of leisure travel post-pandemic. Passengers are being advised to plan their journeys throughout the weekend and ensure they are aware of any delays across the network.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said:
“I’m pleased to say the vast majority of the railway will be open for business as usual this bank holiday, so passengers can rely on us to get them where they need to go as they make the most of their summers.
“Our teams will be delivering some upgrade works to improve future journeys for passengers, so we’re asking people to check before they travel and make sure their route isn’t affected.”
The major upgrade projects to be carried out over the August Bank Holiday weekend include:
- HS2 piling works at London Euston to enable the delivery of the new high-speed railway. An amended, reduced timetable will run between Northampton/Milton Keynes and London Euston.
- Rebuilding busy junctions to improve reliability at Charing Cross and New Cross, which means changes to Southeastern services in south east London and Kent. There will be no trains to Charing Cross or Cannon Street on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August, with a limited service from Hastings/Tonbridge to London Bridge on both days. London Bridge and Cannon Street will fully reopen on Monday, with only Charing Cross still closed to trains.
- Resignalling works from Hounslow to Virginia Water to improve the reliability of the railway. As a result, London Waterloo to Reading services will be amended and diverted between Clapham Junction and Virginia Water.
- Digital railway resignalling works at Welwyn Garden City to improve reliability. No Great Northern or Thameslink trains will run between Finsbury Park and Stevenage via Welwyn Garden City on 28 August, and Grand Central trains will be diverted with extended journey times.
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