Train stations will be closed or heavily disrupted this Easter weekend as Network Rail embarks on a series of engineering projects.
Travel disruption will be run across the Easter Bank Holiday weekend with maintenance work taking place from Good Friday until Easter Monday. Extensive engineering work is scheduled to take place around London Euston and London Victoria stations. Meanwhile, disruption is also likely at many regional stations including Carlisle, Cambridge and Southampton. Network Rail has confirmed they will deliver investments totalling £86 million over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Officials have stated the works will consist of more than 300 upgrade projects across the country.
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s director of system operations, said: "The vast majority of the rail network will be open as usual for people wanting to travel over the Easter bank holiday, but there will be changes to services in some areas, so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel.
"We carry out a large amount of our work over the Easter period as passenger numbers are lower than they typically would be, disrupting fewer journeys, and the two bank holidays either side of the weekend give us a unique opportunity to get more work done whilst keeping disruption to a minimum."
According to National Rail, lines to and from London Euston will be closed between Saturday and Monday. This is due to the renewal of overhead lines, switches and crossings while drainage work will also take place.
National Rail says the updates will "improve reliability” in a boost for passengers.
Platforms 1-8 at London Victoria Station will be closed between Friday and Monday due to maintenance work at Battersea.
National Rail said this was down to track renewals and re-signalling with all Southeastern services diverted.
Engineers will work on track renewals around the Carlisle area between Saturday 19 and Monday 21 April.
This means that no Avanti West Coast or TransPennine Express trains will run between Carlisle and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh.
National Rail added: "There will also be disruptive work taking place at London Paddington (Friday to Monday), at Manchester / Stockport (Saturday to Monday) at Cambridge (Friday to Monday), at Southampton (Friday to Sunday), and in the Leeds / Huddersfield area (Saturday to Monday)."