Vital track upgrades: Buses replace trains between Milton Keynes Central and Northampton / Rugby from Saturday 27 December to Sunday 4 January 

Route(s) affected

All routes to / from London Euston

Description

Engineering work is taking place between Milton Keynes Central and Northampton / Rugby, closing most lines. Background information on this major work can be found below.

Avanti West Coast:

An amended service will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central, and start again from either Northampton or Rugby.

A replacement bus service will operate between Milton Keynes Central and Northampton / Rugby.

London Northwestern Railway:

Trains between London Euston and Birmingham New Street will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central, and start again between Northampton and Birmingham New Street.

Rail replacement buses will operate between Milton Keynes Central and Northampton.

Trains between London Euston and Tring will not run.

Trains between London Euston and Crewe will run between Northampton and Crewe only.

Background information:

Network Rail will be carrying out £26m worth of vital track upgrades across all four main lines at Hanslope Junction, near Milton Keynes. Large sections of track and the stone foundations beneath them will be replaced to make journeys smoother and more reliable for years to come.

Over 12,500 tonnes of new stone will be laid, and more than 130 new track panels will be delivered and installed. Specialist machinery will be used to lift and position the new track.

While trains are not running between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby / Northampton, extra work will be carried out, including platform improvements at both Milton Keynes Central and Wolverton stations.

More information on this essential work can be found on the Network Rail website.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Replacement bus travel advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.