West Coast main line and Euston HS2 upgrades spring/summer 2021

We’re making major improvements on the railway between London Euston and Scotland over Summer 2021.

The work, part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan and HS2 Phase One, will make passengers’ journeys more reliable and ease pressure on the West Coast main line by adding more railway capacity.

What’s happening?

Euston upgrades

Lines into Euston station will be taken out of service from 17 July to 31 August – to enable the new HS2 terminus to be built. Weekend work will also take place mid July and the end of August.

Most train services will continue running while this work takes place, but there will be some timetable and platform alterations.

Trent Valley upgrades

Over four weekends in July and August (24-25 July, 31 July 0 1 August, 7-8 August and 14-15 August) major improvements to the Trent Valley Line will see new railway track laid and signalling improved.

Buses will replace London Northwestern Railway / West Midlands Railway trains between:

• Rugby and Stafford
• Hednesford and Rugeley Trent Valley
• Bermuda Park / Coventry and Nuneaton

A revised timetable will also be in place to minimise disruption for passengers.

There will be fewer Avanti West Coast trains and slightly longer journey times with services diverted via Birmingham New Street.

Other rail upgrades

Other essential rail upgrades are planned over several weekends from 24 July and during the August bank holiday weekend, (28-30 August)

This means stations and trains between London Euston and Scotland may be busier, services will change, journeys may take longer and in some instances, buses will replace trains.

Improving infrastructure along the West Coast mainline and at Euston is vital to improving services and providing a safe, reliable railway. Euston is a major interchange station and the gateway to the UK’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight rail route.

Why is this work happening over Summer 2021?

The rail industry has worked closely to combine the Euston work and other West Coast rail upgrades as much as possible to minimise disruption to passengers. By carrying out the work over longer periods of time, it will be completed more quickly. This means there will be less passenger disruption.

This is one of the most complex infrastructure changes to take place at Euston and represents one of the biggest ever investments in the station.

For timetable information, please check National Rail Enquiries or your local train company.