West Coast main line upgrades complete leaving Platinum Jubilee free

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Network Rail has completed a range of essential upgrades to the railway between London Euston, the Midlands and North West this Early May Bank Holiday.

Combined with recent work at Easter, a total of £41.1m has been invested in the North West and Central region to improve passenger and freight services for the future.

Both weekends saw the complete closure of London Euston station for major track upgrades at Watford and Wembley.

Other improvements between Saturday 30 and Monday 2 May included:

  • Railway drainage work in Camden to protect tracks from future flooding
  • Demolition of an old railway viaduct in Birmingham ahead of the HS2 (SAS 13) bridge renewal this weekend
  • Signalling – the traffic lights of the railway – being upgraded in Macclesfield
  • Bridge upgrade work in Carlisle
  • Track foundation strengthening in Warrington and Carlisle
  • Track replacement on the West Coast main line in Carstairs in Scotland

Watch: demolition work as part of the SAS 13 bridge renewal project in Birmingham

Network Rail teams planned as much work as possible into the two bank holidays so the West Coast main line is fully open for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee between 2-5 June.

Today (Tuesday 3 May) as rail services returned to normal after the latest major upgrades, Network Rail thanked passengers for their patience.

Tim Shoveller, managing director for Network Rail’s North West and Central region, said: “I’m extremely proud of the hundreds of workers and contractors who’ve pulled out all the stops over the last two bank holidays to improve the railway for the future.

“I’d like to thank passengers whose travel has been disrupted by our £41.1m upgrades over Easter and Early May. The great news is the West Coast main line and major routes in the Midlands and North West are now in the best possible shape for the Platinum Jubilee weekend when the whole country will join in to celebrate 70 years of our Queen on the throne.”

With the railway expected to be busy for the major national event, passengers are being advised to plan their journeys in advance by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Photo credit: Network Rail

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