West Coast Main Line improvements

We are carrying out major projects between 24 December 2024 until 2 January 2025 to improve the railway for passengers and freight.

Trains to and from Euston station from 24 December until 2 January are expected to be extremely busy due to major rail upgrades taking place on the rail network. You are urged to ‘travel either side’ of the festive period this year during major rail upgrades.

What work is taking place?

Work on the West Coast main line includes:

• Resignalling work on the railway traffic lights in the Crewe area between Wednesday 25 December and Thursday 2 January. No trains will pass through Crewe on Friday 27 December. There will be no direct service to Liverpool and there will be a reduced service to Manchester from Saturday 28 December until Friday 3 January.
• Installing a bridge and completing overhead line improvement work at Greek Street roundabout in Stockport while the railway is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
• Overnight on New Year’s Eve, tamping is taking place near Birmingham New Street station, which means a later start to services on New Year’s Day – 1 January 2025 – with longer journey times and rail replacement buses. Tamping involves a machine on the track shaking ballast (railway stones) into place to keep the track secure.
• Track drainage improvements near Milton Keynes will mean buses replace all trains from Milton Keynes to both Northampton and Rugby on New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1 January 2025.
• Track upgrades between Watford and Milton Keynes will affect some services between Watford and Milton Keynes between Wednesday 1 and Saturday 4 January 2025.

How will this work affect me?

Crewe

From 27 December 2024, bus replacement services will be provided between Crewe and key stations including Sandbach, Stafford, Chester, Liverpool South Parkway, Stockport, and Stoke.

Passengers should expect route variations and potential disruptions until 3 January 2025.

Birmingham New Street

On the 23 and 24 December 2024, buses will replace trains between Coleshill Parkway and Birmingham New Street, and there will be longer journey times on some Cross Country services.

On 1 January 2025, all services towards Birmingham from the south will have extended journey times whilst being diverted via Stechford and Aston. Buses replace trains on local stations towards Birmingham International.

All passengers should plan ahead and check National Rail Enquires for the latest travel updates.

Get in touch

If you have any questions please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.