Passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line have been warned of significant disruptions over the Christmas and New Year period as Network Rail carries out a £26 million upgrade at Hanslope Junction near Milton Keynes. The work, which runs from the afternoon of 24 December until the morning of 5 January, is designed to make journeys smoother and more reliable for decades to come.

Hanslope Junction, a key section of railway located 56 miles north of London Euston, carries more than 3,300 passenger and freight services per week. Engineers will replace large sections of track, strengthen the foundations beneath it, install more than 12,500 tonnes of ballast stone, and deliver over 130 new track panels, some pre-assembled off-site. Specialist machinery will lift and position track across all four lines in the area, removing speed restrictions and reducing ongoing maintenance needs.

Additional improvements will take place while the line is closed. At Milton Keynes Central, Platform 4 will be renewed as part of a £3.66 million project to replace concrete planks and fix uneven surfaces, enhancing safety and structural integrity. Wolverton station will see more than £2 million invested in resurfacing Platforms 3 and 4, improving stepping distances between train and platform. Track near Roade will be upgraded with over 1,500 metres of new rail as part of a £600,000 project, and Newport Bridge in Stafford will undergo a £5.4 million renewal to strengthen the bridge carrying the A518 over the railway.

Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s route director for the West Coast South route, said:

“This Christmas and New Year we’re investing in major upgrades to keep the West Coast Main Line safe, reliable and fit for the future. The work at Hanslope Junction is one of the most significant projects, and by carrying it out during a quieter travel period we can deliver improvements that will benefit passengers and freight for decades to come. Our advice for anyone planning to travel between London and Scotland this Christmas is to plan your journeys as early as possible by visiting National Rail Enquiries.”

To carry out the upgrades safely, there will be no trains between Milton Keynes and Northampton or Rugby for eleven consecutive days. Follow-up work, including tamping and drainage improvements, will take place on Sundays 11 and 25 January, with no train services operating between Milton Keynes and Northampton/Rugby on those days.

Passengers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and expect some sections to be served by rail replacement buses. Trains are expected to be busier than usual, and careful planning is recommended.

Image: Network Rail