UK infrastructure manager Network Rail has warned passengers travelling via train during the August bank holiday weekend to expect possible disruption across several routes.
The company is planning to deliver over 400 projects over the weekend at a total cost of £84m, which is included in Network Rail’s five-year railway upgrade plan.
The investment will see 9,600 employees concentrate efforts to conclude the works between 25 and 27 August, aiming to improve infrastructure, facilities and services throughout the country.
Network Rail managing director of England and Wales Andy Thomas said: “This August bank holiday weekend, thousands of rail workers will be working round the clock to deliver crucial upgrades to the rail network as part of the £50bn railway upgrade plan. This huge investment programme will lead to faster, better services and help relieve over-crowding to respond to the huge growth on Britain’s railways.
“While most of the network is open for business as usual, some routes are heavily affected and so we strongly advise passengers to plan ahead.”
During the bank holiday weekend, passengers won’t be able to use London Euston station at North Wembley as the hub will be closed to replace a nearby junction. The station will also be closed between 1 and 2 September.
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By GlobalDataWorks to improve the track and signalling through Derby station, funded by a £200m investment, will also reach their peak on the last weekend of August. The engineering works started on 22 July and are expected to conclude on 7 October. Network Rail has planned works in the area as part of the biggest upgrade of the Midland Main Line to date, which is hoped to improve journeys between Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and London.
Track replacements will also take place near Coventry, with passengers using Birmingham International Airport urged to use buses instead of trains to travel between the airport and Rugby.
Rail Delivery Group managing director of customer experience Jacqueline Starr said: “Network Rail and train companies are working together to change and improve as part of our long-term plan to deliver more services, quicker journeys and better value-for-money for customers. This bank holiday as we work to improve the network’s reliability, we are asking customers to check before you travel.”