Check before you travel over the Easter and May Bank Holiday weekends
We’re making improvements to the railway this spring. Some train journeys might be affected – check below for more details
Please check before you travel during the Easter weekend
The Easter Bank Holiday weekend covered by this guide is from Friday 3 April (Good Friday in England, Wales and Scotland) until Monday 6 April (Easter Monday in England and Wales) inclusive.
There will be lots of planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway. In addition, some train companies will be making changes to their timetable, and to some train times, to match services to the number of customers travelling.
Planning and checking your journey
You can plan and check your journey before you travel using the National Rail Journey Planner (below). Important information and useful travel advice relating to your journey may show with symbols on your journey results.
Please note that Journey Planner information is subject to change as timetables are still being finalised. Please continue to check your journey until you are due to set off – this will give you a chance to adjust your journey plans in advance if necessary, and avoid any last-minute disappointment.
Major improvement work on your railway during the Easter weekend
A considerable number of engineering and improvement projects will be undertaken during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026. Here's a selection of the biggest projects that will be undertaken:
Milton Keynes Central - London Euston: Lines between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston will be closed from Friday 3 April until Wednesday 8 April inclusive for major improvement works. Services between Scotland, the north-west of England, the west Midlands and London will terminate at Milton Keynes Central. Buses will run between Milton Keynes Central and Bedford / Potters Bar where you can catch a train to and from an alternative central London station.
Preston - Glasgow Central / Edinburgh: Improvement works will be significantly disrupting train services from Saturday 4 April until Monday 6 April inclusive. Travelling between these stations may require using replacement buses for part or all of your journey.
Other significant engineering work may impact your journey plans to or from London Waterloo, to and from Cambridge, and in the Southampton area.
Please see our individual train company pages (via the links listed above) for more information and travel advice on all the Easter engineering works.
For information on all future work taking place, you can find details of forthcoming engineering works on our website.
Please check before you travel during the May Bank Holiday weekends
The Early May Bank Holiday weekend covered by this guide runs from Saturday 2 May until Bank Holiday Monday 4 May inclusive.
The Late May (also known as Spring) Bank Holiday weekend covered by this guide runs from Saturday 23 May until Bank Holiday Monday 25 May inclusive.
There will be lots of planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway. In addition, some train companies will be making changes to their timetable, and to some train times, to match services to the number of customers travelling.