It’s coming up to the extra-long Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday. If you’re planning to head to London or travel for celebrations – what major engineering works are there to look forward to?
Don’t expect to see many empty platforms at mainline stations this weekend.
There is a lot less work going on this bank holiday weekend, with major works suspended with “normal” services operating – although amended timetables may be in effect depending on the operator.
Let’s start with a tour of the airports in the London area.
London Airports
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express is planning to operate a normal service.
Elizabeth Line (formally TfL Rail), Heathrow Branch.
The Heathrow branch of the Elizabeth Line will operate a normal planned service through the holiday weekend.
In addition, Elizabeth Line services will operate through the Crossrail core (Paddington Low Level to Abbey Wood) all weekend for those who want to try it out.
Piccadilly Line
TfL plans to operate a normal service on the Piccadilly Line. For those of you straying beyond the Piccadilly Line, the London Underground is operating as near enough normal service over the weekend (bar nighttime strike action). Check before you go.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Express is running slightly re-timed services on Thursday and Friday. A normal timetable will operate the rest of the time.
Stansted Airport
Greater Anglia is planning to operate a normal service.
Luton Airport
East Midlands Railway and Thameslink are planning to operate a normal service to the airport
Beyond London, there are some minor changes
- Avanti West Coast
- Some late-night engineering work on Thursday in the Crewe and Coventry areas, with bus replacement services offered. Normal service will operate the rest of the time.
- CrossCountry
- On Sunday, there is engineering work is taking place between Melton Mowbray and Peterborough and in the Wakefield Westgate area. The rest of the network will operate as normal
- East Midlands Railway
- Trains will be unable to call at Barrow Haven station through the weekend. There is also late evening work taking place in the Mansfield Woodhouse area on Thursday and early morning work between Leicester and Kettering on Sunday. Normal service will operate the rest of the time
- Grand Central
- Normal service is planned
- Great Western Railway
- Whilst a mostly normal service will operate, there are exceptions
- On Thursday 2 June – Maidenhead – Marlow line will be an hourly service all day. There will be Late night engineering work taking place between Westbury and Frome, Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester, Gloucester and Yate, Kemble and Gloucester.
- Friday 3 June – Maidenhead – Marlow line will be an hourly service all day. There will be Late night engineering work taking place between Westbury and Frome.
- Saturday 4 June – Evening and late-night engineering work is taking place between Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction, Hayes & Harlington and Maidenhead.
- Sunday 5 June Engineering work is taking place between Hayes & Harlington and Maidenhead. As a result, early morning and late-night trains will not call at Burnham
- Whilst a mostly normal service will operate, there are exceptions
- 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
- Normal Service on Thursday and Friday, Strike Action expected Saturday and Sunday
- the line between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria will be closed with trains diverted to start from / terminate at Manchester Piccadilly instead.
- Late-night engineering work will be taking place between Leeds and Hull on Saturday and Sunday
Check before you travel
As usual, check before you travel. The latest works can be found at National Rail Enquiries – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend Travel Summary, which covers the entire UK Rail network.
It’s a LOT better than usual – but a lot more people are travelling
It’s strange how a national event has actually forced rail operators and the infrastructure company to ensure services run, rather than taking the opportunity to dig up the rail network for four days.
However, it is still half-term and thus, a lot more people are using the network than usual. Combined with the Jubille traffic in/out of London, there may be struggles for seating or trains filled to standing room.
Patience will be needed when travelling this long weekend.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, featuring in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can follow me on Instagram too!
Also remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.
