Essential upgrades across the country have been completed by Network Rail ahead of the Coronation bank holiday on Monday 8 May.
Over the May Day bank holiday weekend, between Saturday 29 April and Tuesday 2 May, the works were undertaken to improve passenger and freight services on the West Coast main line.
Timetables on the line resumed yesterday (Tuesday 2 May) after some sections of the track had closed, so engineers could quickly and safely carry out the major improvements.
The works completed over the bank holiday were part of a £14.5m investment across the whole of Network Rail’s North West and Central region to help Network Rails long term works planning, net zero and decarbonisation goals. Work completed included:
- Work to 25,000-volt overhead lines which power trains at Euston and Kings Langley to make them more resilient during hot weather whilst ensuring the decarbonised rail travel can continue without disruption
- Track upgrades in Harrow and Wealdstone, Tring, Cumbria and Lancashire
- Overhead line upgrades as part of a year-long power supply project at Bushey
- Work starting to remove of the old arrival and departure boards at Euston station
- Upgrades to track foundation stone at Willesden North, Watford South Junction and Wigan
- Platform extensions at Leyland station
- Signalling work at Basford Hall in Crewe
- Follow up work at Stalybridge as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade
- Ongoing construction of a new Merseyrail station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby.
Dave Penney, Network Rail’s North West & Central region passenger director, said: “Hundreds of frontline staff worked throughout the bank holiday to improve journeys for passengers and freight in the North West and Central region and I’m immensely proud of them and our contractors who helped Network Rail deliver this vital programme of upgrades.
“This weekend will be another bank holiday for the King's coronation, and the railway will be open as normal. We're still advising people to check before they travel as trains, particularly in and out of London Euston, and also Liverpool for the start of the Eurovision song contest, are expected to be busier than usual."
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