Network Rail will deliver £90m worth of upgrades to the railway over the August Bank Holiday.  Although the vast majority of the network (95%) will be open for business some routes will be affected by the upgrade works taking place. However, most passengers travelling over the Bank Holiday to visit friends of family shouldn’t be affected but are advised to check before they travel.

Upgrading our railways is needed in order to improve the overall passenger journey but unfortunately bank holidays are often the most productive time to carry out upgrade works.  However, with the recent strike actions and the railways just getting back to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic Network Rail are keen to minimise any passenger disruptions as much as possible.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “I’m pleased to say the vast majority of the railway will be open for business as usual this bank holiday, so passengers can rely on us to get them where they need to go as they make the most of their summers.

“Our teams will be delivering some upgrade works to improve future journeys for passengers, so we’re asking people to check before they travel and make sure their route isn’t affected.”

Network Rail report that the major upgrade projects to be carried out over the August Bank Holiday weekend include:

• HS2 piling works at London Euston to enable the delivery of the new high-speed railway. An amended, reduced timetable will run between Northampton/Milton Keynes and London Euston.
• Rebuilding busy junctions to improve reliability at Charing Cross and New Cross, which means changes to South Eastern services in south east London and Kent. There will be no trains to Charing Cross or Cannon Street on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August, with a limited service from Hastings/Tonbridge to London Bridge on both days. London Bridge and Cannon Street will fully reopen on Monday, with only Charing Cross still closed to trains.
• Resignalling works from Hounslow to Virginia Water to improve the reliability of the railway. As a result, London Waterloo to Reading services will be amended and diverted between Clapham Junction and Virginia Water.
• Digital railway resignalling works at Welwyn Garden City to improve reliability. No Great Northern or Thameslink trains will run between Finsbury Park and Stevenage via Welwyn Garden City on 28 August and Grand Central trains will be diverted with extended journey times.

Image credit Network Rail.