Check Before You Travel This Spring
Check before you travel over the May Bank Holiday weekends
We’re making improvements to the railway this spring. Some train journeys might be affected – check below for more details
Please check before you travel during the Easter weekend
The Easter Bank Holiday weekend covered by this guide is from Friday 3 April (Good Friday in England, Wales and Scotland) until Monday 6 April (Easter Monday in England and Wales) inclusive.
There will be lots of planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway. In addition, some train companies will be making changes to their timetable, and to some train times, to match services to the number of customers travelling.
Planning and checking your journey
You can plan and check your journey before you travel using the National Rail Journey Planner (below). Important information and useful travel advice relating to your journey may show with symbols on your journey results.
Please note that Journey Planner information is subject to change as timetables are still being finalised. Please continue to check your journey until you are due to set off – this will give you a chance to adjust your journey plans in advance if necessary, and avoid any last-minute disappointment.
Please check our Status and Disruptions page for up-to-date real-time information.
Find out more about your rights if a train journey is delayed or cancelled.
Easter Bank Holiday weekend changes being made by your train company
Details of the service that each train company will be providing is available via the links listed below:
Major improvement work on your railway during the Easter weekend
A considerable number of engineering and improvement projects will be undertaken during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026. Here's a selection of the biggest projects that will be undertaken:
Milton Keynes Central - London Euston: Lines between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston will be closed from Friday 3 April until Wednesday 8 April inclusive for major improvement works. Services between Scotland, the north-west of England, the west Midlands and London will terminate at Milton Keynes Central. Buses will run between Milton Keynes Central and Bedford / Potters Bar where you can catch a train to and from an alternative central London station.
Preston - Glasgow Central / Edinburgh: Improvement works will be significantly disrupting train services from Saturday 4 April until Monday 6 April inclusive. Travelling between these stations may require using replacement buses for part or all of your journey.
Other significant engineering work may impact your journey plans to or from London Waterloo, to and from Cambridge, and in the Southampton area.
Please see our individual train company pages (via the links listed above) for more information and travel advice on all the Easter engineering works.
For information on all future work taking place, you can find details of forthcoming engineering works on our website.
Travel by Train to the Airport at Easter
Getting to the airport can often be the most stressful part of your trip, but it doesn’t have to be. Opt for the smart way to start your journey: travel by train. Whether you’re jetting off on business or embarking on a long-awaited holiday, the rail network offers regular connections to many major UK airports.
Britain's airports are expected to be especially busy at Easter. To help you with your travel plans we have produced a 'Travel by Train' guide for getting to and from your chosen airport at bank holidays. It contains details of any service changes and engineering work that may affect your arrangements for getting to Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Stansted Airport, London Luton Airport and Manchester Airport and is available via the link below:
Travel by Train to the Airport at Bank Holidays
Social media
For the latest rail travel news, why not follow National Rail on X? Over 1 million people follow @nationalrailenq on X. Our social media team are available 24/7 (except Christmas Day) to answer your rail queries and supply you with the latest real-time travel updates.
If you would like to follow Easter rail information on X, please use #EasterWorks
Please check before you travel during the May Bank Holiday weekends
The next Early May Bank Holiday weekend runs from Saturday 2 May to Monday 4 May 2026. The next Late May (also known as Spring) Bank Holiday weekend runs from Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May 2026. This travel summary page will start being updated approximately 12 weeks prior to those dates. We look forward to your return visit then.
A very warm welcome to our May Bank Holidays travel advice for 2026.
Planned essential engineering works and upgrades will be taking place at numerous locations during the bank holiday weekend as Network Rail works to improve the railway.
Some train companies will also be making changes to their timetable, and to some train times, to match services to the number of customers travelling.
We do recommend that you plan your bank holiday weekend travel in advance. Check before you travel using the National Rail Journey Planner (below). Important information and useful travel advice relating to your journey may show with warning symbols on your journey results.
Please note though that this information is subject to change as timetables are still being finalised, please check before you travel. Please check our Status and Disruptions pages for up to date real time information.
Major improvement work on your railway during the May Bank Holiday weekends
A considerable number of engineering and improvement projects will be undertaken during the May Bank Holiday weekends. Details of the biggest works taking place will be published here when available.
Please visit our Status and Disruptions pages where you can find details of all the engineering works for the Late May bank holiday weekend.
Check your journey
Please check your journey before you travel using the National Rail real-time Journey Planner.
Find out more about your rights if a train changes.
Social media
For the latest rail travel news, why not follow National Rail on X? Over 1 million people follow @nationalrailenq on X. Our social media team are available 24/7 over the bank holiday weekend to answer your rail queries and supply you with the latest real-time travel updates.
May Bank Holiday changes being made by your train company
Details of the service each train company will be providing over the bank holiday weekends will be listed below nearer to the time (these page links are currently showing information for the next bank holiday period):
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