Rail passengers warned of disruption during May, as work begins on major project in Lancashire

Rail passengers are being warned of disruption on the West Coast Main Line through Lancashire this month.
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Passengers who need to use the railway to travel on routes out of the north west to London Euston being advised to check their journeys before travelling, with major railway upgrades planned to take place over weekends this month, including the early and late May bank holidays.

Network Rail is carrying essential upgrades to improve future journeys on the West Coast main line for passengers and freight on:

l Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3;

Work to replace a major rail junction at Euxton, near Chorley, could mean disruption for rail passengers during May 2020.Work to replace a major rail junction at Euxton, near Chorley, could mean disruption for rail passengers during May 2020.
Work to replace a major rail junction at Euxton, near Chorley, could mean disruption for rail passengers during May 2020.
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l VE Day bank holiday weekend – Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10 (Early Bank Holiday);

l Spring bank holiday weekend – Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25 (Late Bank Holiday).

The work includes a major junction being replaced at Euxton, near Chorley, track improvements in Wembley, Wolverhampton and Warrington and the partial removal of a 1960s railway flyover at Bletchley.

The essential upgrades have been planned to ensure freight can keep moving around the country and people who cannot work from home can still get to their jobs.

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Those who do need to travel over the affected weekends in May are being advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk ahead of the engineering work.

Tim Shoveller, managing director for Network Rail’s North West & Central region, said: “The schemes we are carrying out over the weekends in May are all must-do work. We have planned it so as to minimise disruption to freight and those who do need to travel. It will help to ensure the railway is at its best when Britain emerges from this coronavirus pandemic.

“Our mission-critical frontline colleagues, including railway upgrade engineers, signallers, maintenance, control room and operations staff, are Britain’s hidden heroes, helping to keep Britain connected in this time of need. And I’m proud of them.”

Passengers should continue following Government guidelines around the use of public transport, and only travel if they have to.

People making such journeys should visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest information.