Will railway work affect my bank holiday journey?

Travellers planning a train journey this bank holiday weekend are being warned of disruption during major upgrade work across north-west England and further afield.

Network Rail said engineers are carrying out "essential improvements" between Saturday 3 and Monday 5 May.

The multi-million pound work programme includes renewal of switches and crossings in Warrington, Cheshire, affecting services between Crewe and Preston, and work to improve station facilities at Salford Central.

Brian Paynter,  Network Rail's capital delivery head of track, said the work would "improve the reliability and safety of the railway for passengers and freight".

He added: "We know some of this will be disruptive, but bank holidays remain the least busy time for carrying out complex upgrades."

Further north, signalling upgrades will take place north of Carlisle in the Kingmoor area.

Further down the West Coast Main Line, people planning journeys to London Euston are also advised that trains will terminate at Milton Keynes on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May.

That is due to a range of track upgrades which can only take place during a full railway closure.

Network Rail urged anyone planning to travel to check their journey online.

It said between Saturday 3 May and Monday 5 May long distance trains will divert around the work in the Warrington area via Manchester and Bolton. while replacement bus services will operate between Crewe and Preston.

Between Saturday 3 May and Monday 5 May buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Glasgow via Lockerbie.

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Edinburgh, and between Carlisle and Dumfries.

It said anyone are travelling to or from Salford Central should use alternative nearby stations such as Salford Crescent, Deansgate, Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Victoria.

Rail tickets will be accepted on any Bee Network buses between Salford Central and Salford Crescent, Manchester City Centre or Manchester Oxford Road during this time.

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