National Rail Enquiries will be keeping an up to date summary of routes affected by the line closures on their website. It is very advisable to check this website before travelling over the Easter period Friday to Monday inclusive. The Association of Train Operating Companies has offered a useful summary of the situation:
- “The West Coast Main Line will be closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday between Coventry, Rugby and Northampton and from London Euston on Easter Saturday until Easter Monday. No intercity services will operate from London Euston from Good Friday. Local train services will operate between London Euston and Northampton only on Good Friday. Local services will be replaced by buses at other times. Chiltern Railways will accept all valid Virgin and London Midland tickets on London Marylebone to Birmingham services.”
- “The East Coast Main Line from 2pm on Easter Saturday to 2pm on Easter Sunday, when services between London King’s Cross, the North East of England and Scotland will be diverted via Leeds due to work between Doncaster and York.”
- “The Great Western Main Line services between Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham will be disrupted from Good Friday to Easter Monday with trains being replaced by a bus service or diverted.”
- “Services from London Waterloo on the South West Main Line will be subject to alterations and diversions due to major engineering works taking place at Clapham Junction between Good Friday and Easter Monday.”
- “Services to East Anglia and the Essex coast from London’s Liverpool Street will also be disrupted between Good Friday and Easter Monday with a bus replacement service operating between Gidea Park, Billericay and Ingatestone. On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday other services to/from Liverpool Street will operate to alternative timetables.”
They are also offering four steps to achieving an easier and as hassle free a journey as possible: plan your journey using the timetable enquiry service on National Rail Enquiries, book in advance of travelling to ensure a seat reservation, make seat reservations if not already held and check engineering works affecting the route intended to travel on.