Milton Keynes passengers travelling to and from London Euston urged to ‘check before you travel’ this Early May Bank Holiday

London Euston station will be closed to all but London Overground services on Sunday 5 May for essential railway improvements over the Early May Bank Holiday.

Network Rail is upgrading sections of track at Wembley, Ledburn Junction and Stafford to improve future journeys on one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight rail routes.

Upgrades will also take place to switches and crossings – the equipment which lets trains move between lines.

Such complex and large projects can only be done during a closure of the railway, with bank holidays being the least disruptive time to do them.

As well as the track improvements, engineers are making the most of the railway closure to carry out a wide range of other work. Trains between Coventry and Birmingham New Street will be diverted and rail replacement buses will be in operation while important track improvements take place. In the North West, engineers are carrying out major railway upgrades between Crewe, Liverpool, Warrington, Runcorn, Wigan, Bolton, Manchester, Preston and Carlisle.

Like over Easter, trains will start and finish at Milton Keynes. Passengers needing to travel on Saturday 4 May and Monday 6 May could have longer journeys, fewer available seats, and may need to use rail replacement buses.

Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “We made great progress on major railway improvements over Easter and I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience while we carry out more must-do work between 4 May and 6 May. We know there is never an ideal time to shut the railway but bank holidays continue to be the least disruptive time for us to carry out this essential maintenance.

“With Euston closed on Sunday 5 May our advice is once again to check before you travel and plan ahead by checking National Rail Enquiries to see how your journey could be impacted.”

Passengers should plan ahead at www.networkrail.co.uk/wcml, check with their train operators or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest journey information.