Press release -
Euston station to close for three weekends this summer while Wembley junction is replaced
West Coast main line train passengers are being urged to avoid all but essential rail travel to and from London over three consecutive weekends in August and September when Euston station will be closed.
As part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan, Network Rail is replacing North Wembley junction – a major intersection on Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway.
The junction is old. Replacing it will mean passenger and freight users will benefit from better, more reliable journeys in future.
Unfortunately doing this vital job requires shutting the line. The least disruptive time to do this work, jointly agreed by rail industry partners, is over the following three weekends:
- 18-19 August
- 25-27 August (bank holiday weekend)
- 1-2 September
Train passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance at www.nationalrail.co.uk/westcoast and using information on their train operators’ websites.
If customers cannot avoid travelling on these weekends, they’re advised to expect very different journeys to normal – busier trains and longer, diverted routes. The advice is, as always, to “check before you travel” on www.nationalrail.co.uk
Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s London North Western route said: “There is never an ideal time to shut the railway but these three weekends are the least disruptive times to do it.
“We have worked together for the past three years with train operators to carefully plan this closure of the railway in a way that minimises impact on customers.
“It’s vital the track at north Wembley is replaced to continue to safely meet the huge demand of passenger and freight rail services on the West Coast main line. This work will result in better, more reliable journeys in future.”
Peter Broadley, executive director for customer, operations and safety at Virgin Trains on the west coast, said: “With no services into or out of Euston we strongly advise our customers to avoid travelling to London on the days affected. We know this will impact on people’s travel plans, particularly over a Bank Holiday weekend so to make it easier we are lifting peak restrictions on the Fridays before these dates from 09:30 for the whole day.”
Andrew Conroy, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway said: “Our aim is to keep people moving if they have to travel on these dates. Improvement works are never convenient for anyone, but we have a tried and tested plan for operating buses to connect with alternative routes to and from London when Euston is closed. We still advise customers to travel on alternative days as these options will take significantly longer.”
Euston’s shops and access to London Underground will remain available throughout the three weekends.
All customers are urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk/westcoast for the very latest travel information.
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London Northwestern Railway services:
- On 18 & 19 August services will start and terminate at Hemel Hempstead.
- From 25 – 27 August, services will start and terminate at Hemel Hempstead. Buses will also replace trains between Birmingham International and Rugby due to work at Coventry.
- On 1 & 2 September services will start and terminate at Milton Keynes Central.
During this work, buses will connect train services to Stanmore Underground station for alternative connections to and from central London.
For details on how Virgin Trains services are affected visit www.virgintrains.co.uk
The closures will impact all West Coast main line train services as far afield as Edinburgh and Glasgow and all services on other routes are expected to be busier and take longer than usual. Queuing systems will be in place at some stations, and bus replacements may also be used - passengers are urged to not travel on these three weekends unless essential.
A national advertising campaign was launched in early July to raise awareness about the changes to services. Adverts are on websites, at train stations and on commercial radio stations in areas serving the West Coast main line on the route to and from Euston. There are station announcements and train operating companies are reminding passengers of the closures.
There are programmes of events and sporting fixtures across the country over the three weekends. Network Rail is working with event organisers and clubs to help make sure that visitors are aware of the closures at Euston. Passengers should plan ahead and always check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk/westcoast
For further information on West Midlands Trains, London Northwestern Railway or West Midlands Railway call our newsroom on 03300 955150.
About West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains Ltd. will be running the West Midlands rail franchise from 10 December 2017 until 2025/6. Abellio has a 70.1% share of the company, East Japan Railway Company (JRE) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) own the remaining 29.9% in a 50:50 split.
About Abellio
Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Every day our people provide rail, bus and tram services to 1.7m customers across the UK, Germany and in the Netherlands. In the UK we operate buses through Abellio London, as well as ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, and Merseyrail in a joint venture with Serco. In Germany we operate Abellio Deutschland, serving communities in North Rhine Westfalia, Saxony, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Hesse and Thuringia. Our role in transport extends beyond the journey from a-to-b. With our international heritage and our policy of sharing best practice, not just amongst ourselves, but across the wider transport industry, we provide thought leadership and truly innovative ideas which make a positive contribution to the communities we serve. For more information on Abellio visit www.abellio.com
About Mitsui
Mitsui is one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service enterprises in the world with 139 offices in 66 countries as of March, 2017. Utilising our global operating locations, network and information resources, we are multilaterally pursuing business that ranges from product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, through to the development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields: Iron & Steel Products, Mineral & Metal Resources, Infrastructure Projects, Integrated Transportation Systems, Chemicals, Energy, Food Resources, Food Products & Services, Consumer Services, IT & Communication, and Corporate Development Business. Mitsui is actively taking on challenges for global business innovation around the world. For more information, visit www.mitsui.com.
About JR East
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) was established in 1987, when Japanese National Railways was divided as part of a package of railway reforms. JR East’s railway business covers a 7,500 km (approx. 4,660 miles) network in the eastern part of the Japanese main island, including Tokyo Metropolitan area, and provides transportation services, comprising urban, suburban and high speed operations, for 17 million passengers on a daily basis. JR East also undertakes non‐transport commercial activities, which account for more than 30% of the total revenue of JR East Group. JR East contributes to passengers and communities it serves by delivering high degrees of punctuality, reliability and comfort and also continues to pursue higher levels of safety and service quality through technical innovation. For more information, visit www.jreast.co.jp/e.
