Bank holiday travel: Thousands of rail passengers face disruption over Easter weekend

Passengers warned to check for changes before setting out

Rail passengers face disruption over Easter weekend. (PA Wire/PA Images)

Thousands of rail passengers will face travel disruption over Easter as major stations are closed for £100m engineering works.

People planning to travel over the bank holiday weekend from 19 and 22 April are being warned to check for changes to services before setting out on their journey.

Network Rail said a 13,800-strong workforce will work around the clock over the long weekend to keep the railway open and deliver “more reliable infrastructure, improved facilities and services for passengers”.

Significant work will be carried out from London Euston to Glasgow along the West Coast mainline.

As a result, London Euston will be closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday with no services running to or from the station.

The worst affected services will be Virgin Trains on the West Coast mainline route throughout the weekend.

Trains will also not run to or from London Fenchurch Street throughout the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Instead, services will be diverted to and from London Liverpool Street from 19 April to 22 April and buses will replace trains between Barking and Aldgate East.

Services to and from Glasgow Central will also be amended throughout the weekend.

Significant electrification work will also take place, including installing foundations, masts, overhead line equipment and fencing, between Cardiff Central station and Severn Tunnel junction.

This means buses will replace trains between Bristol/Chepstow and Newport.

Engineers will also upgrade the overhead wiring system on the Southend Victoria branch line.

Bus services will replace trains between Shenfield and Southend Victoria/Southminster.

Network Rail said engineering works were taking place to work on “improving reliability and reducing delays for passengers”.