We’re barrelling towards the Early Spring Bank Holiday – or another chance for a long weekend by jumping on a train and heading off somewhere.
As usual, is that a good idea?
Good luck getting a train out of Euston Station for a start – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Whilst the majority of the network, there are major pinch points that will be shut – including access to some airports.
Because the rail network thinks no one travels during holiday weekends.
Anyway – what’s going on during the three-day bank holiday weekend?
London Airports
Heathrow Express
Early morning engineering work will take place between London Paddington and Southall on 1st May. As a result:
- The first train to depart from London Paddington to Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 will be the 07:55 service. After this, the normal service will operate.
- The first train to depart from Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 to London Paddington will be the 07:42 service. After this, the normal service will operate.
A normal service will operate on the Heathrow Express at other times.
TFL Rail
On Sunday 1 May, services at 0511 0541 0611 and 0641 from Paddington to Heathrow and 0600 and 0730 from Heathrow to Paddington will not operate. In addition, until 0800 Sunday, no service between Paddington and Ealing Broadway, please use London Underground connections.
A normal service will operate at other times on this TFL rail branch.
Piccadilly Line
A normal service is planned on the Piccadilly Line.
Gatwick Airport
There are no planned Southern or Gatwick Express services over the bank holiday. You will need to travel to London Bridge via Thameslink or Southern and change as needed.
Stansted Airport
Engineering work is taking place between Cheshunt and Stansted Airport. As a result, there will be no direct trains between London and Stansted Airport. Instead, trains will run between London Liverpool Street and Waltham Cross, replacement buses will run between Waltham Cross and Stansted Airport.
Luton Airport
Normal operations are planned.
London Terminals
As usual, we’ll have a quick look around the London Terminal
- Euston and north of Euston (impacting TfL Rail/Overground, Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway) – There will be no services between Euston and Milton Keynes Central. Trains will start/terminate at Milton Keynes Central, with onward bus service
- Victoria Station –No Southern or Gatwick Express services will call at London Victoria. Most trains will be diverted to London Bridge, and limited rail replacement bus services will run between East Croydon or Balham and Clapham Junction for local journeys. Journey times at Gatwick Airport may be extended as only 3 out of 7 platforms will be in use at Gatwick Airport station. Please check your journey in advance, and allow extra time for your journey where necessary.
- London Liverpool Street – Greater Anglia will have changes, affecting services to Stansted Airport
Beyond London, there are changes too – here are some of the major changes that have been confirmed (I’ve covered Intercity routes in this round-up – there are plenty of regional changes too).
- Avanti West Coast
- No trains will run between Carlisle and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh, as well as the Euston closures
- CrossCountry
- Birmingham New Street and Water Orton, with bus replacement and diversions
- Motherwell – Edinburgh – replaced with a bus service.
- East Midlands Railway
- Sunday 1st May – Until 10:45, engineering work is taking place between East Midlands Parkway and Leicester. As a result, buses will replace trains between Sheffield, Derby and Leicester, and between Derby and Nottingham.
- Monday 2 May – Late night engineering work will be taking place in the Market Harborough area.
- Grand Central
- Sunderland and Hartlepool services will be replaced with buses. Trains will be re-timed through the weekend.
- Great Western Railway
- There is a lot of late evening/early morning working the Dawlish area.
- There is also early morning engineering work in the Paddington Area on Sunday 1st. Some services will be retimed and subject to terminating short of their destinations
- LNER
- Due to engineering work in the Motherwell area, trains that usually run to/from Glasgow Central will be amended to only run to/from Edinburgh. A replacement bus will run between Motherwell and Edinburgh. If you are travelling from Glasgow Central, you should use alternative ScotRail services between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh.
- There is other work affecting the network on Sunday – check before you travel
- Transpennine Express
- Engineering work is taking place between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge. As a result, trains will be diverted to start from / terminate at Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria.
- Engineering work is taking place in the Motherwell area. No trains will run between Carlisle and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh.
- Oh, strike action is expected too.
Check before you travel
As usual, check before you travel. The latest works can be found at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/239803.aspx, which covers the entire UK Rail network.
Will it be better for the Platinum Jubilee Weekend?
The four-day celebration of Her Majesty, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend is occurring between the 2nd and 5th of June.
According to National Rail:
Due to the number of people expected to be travelling by rail to Platinum Jubilee events, there will be little major engineering work undertaken. Line closures will still be taking place though, so please check your journey is possible before you travel.
Checking the Saturday and Sunday there is plenty of work and closures going on.
If you’re planning to travel, plan appropriately.
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