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Passengers warned to avoid Easter UK rail travel Passengers warned to avoid Easter UK rail travel
(about 1 hour later)
Britons travelling by train over the Easter weekend will face major disruption with a large programme of engineering works planned. Britons travelling by train over the Easter weekend will face disruption with a large programme of engineering works planned.
The pressure is on Network Rail to make sure the works finish on time to avoid the travel chaos seen at Christmas when overrunning improvements led to major delays for passengers. The pressure is on Network Rail to make sure the works finish on time to avoid the travel chaos seen at Christmas when overrunning improvements led to delays.
While people take to the roads and skies for bank holiday getaways, many have been advised to avoid travelling by train.While people take to the roads and skies for bank holiday getaways, many have been advised to avoid travelling by train.
Virgin Trains has said it was “strongly recommending” passengers do not travel between Good Friday and Easter Monday, while the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said people may want to “think twice” about their method of travel. Virgin Trains said it was “strongly recommending” that passengers do not travel between Good Friday and Easter Monday, while the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said people may want to think twice about their method of travel.
He said there are alternatives but told the Evening Standard journeys may be more difficult. “If you are travelling between Friday and Monday night please check your journey first,” he told the Evening Standard. “I’m sorry if it is more difficult – but my promise is that the work is essential and when it’s done the benefits will be worthwhile.”
“But if you are travelling between Friday and Monday night please check your journey first, it may be that you’ll think twice about how you travel,” he told the paper. Work at Watford means there will be no Virgin or London Midland trains into or out of London’s Euston station between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
“I’m sorry if it is more difficult – but my promise is that the work is essential and when it’s done the benefits will be worthwhile.” Virgin trains will run no further south than Milton Keynes, Rugby or Northampton, and there will be no direct London Midland services between Euston and Hemel Hempstead.
Major work at Watford means there will be no Virgin or London Midland trains in or out of London’s Euston station between Good Friday and Easter Monday. There will be improvement work on the west coast line between Crewe and Warrington and between Carlisle and Glasgow, which will severely restrict Virgin services to northern England and Scotland.
Virgin trains will run no further south than Milton Keynes, Rugby or Northampton while there will be no direct London Midland services between Euston and Hemel Hempstead. Work will also take place between Manchester and Bolton, and Manchester Victoria station will be closed.
There will be improvement work on the West Coast line between Crewe and Warrington and between Carlisle and Glasgow, which will severely restrict Virgin services to northern England and Scotland.
Work will also take place between Manchester and Bolton, via Farnworth, and Manchester Victoria station will be closed from Good Friday to the end of Easter Monday.
There will be no Southeastern services over Easter to or from the London stations of Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street.There will be no Southeastern services over Easter to or from the London stations of Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street.
Other disrupted areas due to engineering work include parts of Kent, lines running through Reading and some services from London Paddington. Other services disrupted due to engineering work include to parts of Kent, through Reading and from London Paddington.
Meanwhile, an estimated 1.8 million Britons are expected to head overseas for the holiday, and roads are expected to be clogged with around 16m cars. An estimated 1.8 million Britons are expected to head overseas for the holiday, and roads are expected to be clogged with around 16m cars.