Rail upgrades complete to clear way for Platinum Jubilee

Network Rail completed a range of upgrades to the railway between London Euston, the Midlands and North West over the Bank Holiday weekend to ensure the lines run smoothly ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.

Combined with recent work at Easter, the operator said a total of £41.1m has been invested in the North West and Central region to improve passenger and freight services for the future.

Both weekends saw the complete closure of London Euston station for major track upgrades at Watford and Wembley.

Other improvements between Saturday 30 and Monday 2 May included:

Railway drainage work in Camden to protect tracks from future flooding
Demolition of an old railway viaduct in Birmingham ahead of the HS2 (SAS 13) bridge renewal this weekend
Signalling – the traffic lights of the railway – being upgraded in Macclesfield
Bridge upgrade work in Carlisle
Track foundation strengthening in Warrington and Carlisle
Track replacement on the West Coast main line in Carstairs in Scotland

Tim Shoveller, managing director for Network Rail’s North West and Central region, said: “I’m extremely proud of the hundreds of workers and contractors who’ve pulled out all the stops over the last two bank holidays to improve the railway for the future.

“I’d like to thank passengers whose travel has been disrupted by our £41.1m upgrades over Easter and Early May. The great news is the West Coast main line and major routes in the Midlands and North West are now in the best possible shape for the Platinum Jubilee weekend when the whole country will join in to celebrate 70 years of our Queen on the throne.”