No trains will run between London and Glasgow for one or more days over nine weekends in the coming months – including at Easter and the first May bank holiday weekend.
Signalling upgrades by Network Rail will result in the closure of the West Coast Main Line on a number of key dates between March 29 and June 9.
This means that Avanti West Coast trains will not run north of Carlisle – with passengers having to switch to a rail replacement bus to reach Glasgow.
The dates affected are:
•Sunday March 30
•Sunday April 6
•Sunday April 13
•Easter Weekend (Saturday April 19 to Monday April 21)
•Sunday April 27
•May Bank Holiday (Saturday May 3 to Sunday May 4)
•Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11
•Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1
•Sunday June 8
Avanti West Coast services to Edinburgh will also be affected.
Passengers looking to travel by rail will have to switch to LNER or Lumo services, which run between King’s Cross and Edinburgh. Avanti West Coast trains operate in and out of Euston.
Chris Liptrot, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said: “This closure of the West Coast Main Line north of Carlisle will enable Network Rail to carry out planned renewal work to make the railway more reliable.
“During this time, there’ll be no direct trains to or from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Rail replacement services will be in place.
“We strongly advise they plan their journey, as well as check the Avanti West Coast website for the latest updates before travelling.”
Separately, Victoria station will be part-closed over the Easter weekend, due to track renewals, re-signalling, maintenance and other work at Battersea.
Platforms 1-8 will be closed and no Southeastern services will run to/from Victoria between Friday April 18 and Monday April 21, instead diverted via London Bridge or Cannon Street.
Gatwick Express services will run on a reduced timetable and there will be reduced Southern services to Brighton.
Network Rail said the work on the West Coast Main Line was necessary to “improve future journeys for passengers and freight”.
It is spending £60m renewing signals and the lineside equipment north of Carlisle.
Christian Irwin, Network Rail capital delivery director for the North West and Central region, said: “The West Coast Main Line is a crucial Anglo-Scottish railway for both passengers and freight so keeping it in the best condition for trains to run smoothly and on time is our top priority.
“Our major investment north of Carlisle is part of our long-term plan to ensure this busy mixed-used passenger and freight route continues to serve communities and business.
“The scale of these renewals will mean some changes to journeys between March and June, and I’d encourage people to plan their trips in advance by visiting the National Rail Enquiries website.”
In addition, work between Euston and Watford Junction will mean that Avanti West Coast trains will only operate between Milton Keynes Central and Carlisle from April 19 to 21, and from May 4 to 5.
Buses will replace trains between Preston and Carlisle on Sunday March 30.
For all Scotrail services, buses replace trains between Dumfries and Carlisle.
Proposed strike action by the RMT means that Avanti services will be reduced on Sundays between March 23 until May 25.
TransPennine Express, which links Scotland and the North of England, will run an hourly bus service between Carlisle and Edinburgh.
Its customers are advised to use the Avanti West Coast replacement bus service to and from Glasgow Central.
