Rail passengers travelling this weekend have been warned of disruption to services. Football matches and scheduled engineering work are set to impact train services this weekend.
Travellers between London, the West Midlands, and the North West are being urged to check their travel plans ahead of what is expected to be a particularly busy weekend. Industrial action by Avanti West Coast train managers on Sunday will also impact services.
With several FA Cup football fixtures lined up for both Saturday and Sunday, coupled with planned engineering works, services are predicted to be busier than usual. Passengers are also being advised to take extra care and plan ahead as the cold temperatures and icy conditions are forecasted to persist into the weekend.
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The following engineering work will be taking place across the region;
- Track renewal and drainage work will be happening this Sunday 12 January, between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby. An amended service will run with trains diverting via Northampton.
- An altered timetable will be in place between Euston and Birmingham New Street on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January due to essential track upgrades, with rail replacement buses in operation. Some journeys between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will take slightly longer on Saturday 11 January and Sunday 12 January due to planned work in the Smethwick area.
- Replacement buses will be in operation for all stations between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Track improvement work will be carried out in High Wycombe on Saturday 11 January and Sunday 12 January. Buses will replace trains between Gerrards Cross and Princes Risborough and between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Bicester North.
- Upcoming track upgrades between Preston and Carlisle slotted for the weekend of Saturday, 11 January, and Sunday, 12 January, are set to result in alterations to some Preston services.
Phil James, North West route director at Network Rail, said: “With a busy weekend ahead, it’s important to us that passengers get to where they need to be in a safe and timely manner.”
He further noted that Network Rail engineers would be working to maintain and improve the railway’s reliability, especially with football events and the chilly weather in mind. Due to these works, service disruptions are anticipated, and travellers are urged to check their journeys in advance to ensure smooth weekend plans. Additionally, strike action by the RMT union that will affect Avanti West Coast services on Sundays from 12 January to 25 May 2025 has been confirmed.
This industrial action is expected to lead to last-minute service changes, so passengers should keep informed by checking www.nationalrail.co.uk and the latest travel updates available there or via @NationalRailEnq.