Network Rail carrying out bank holiday preparation work for new Brent Cross West station

Network Rail have issued the following press release about planned engineering work that affects Thameslink services in North-West London over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend:

Preparatory work for the new Brent Cross West station continues over the May Bank Holiday long weekend.

Although people should continue to follow Government guidance around the use of public transport and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, those needing to travel in or out of London on the Midland Main Line between Saturday 1^st and Monday 3^rd May are being advised to plan ahead as train services are affected by the work in North-West London.

Network Rail are continuing to reconfigure the track layout and signalling system between West Hampstead and Mill Hill Broadway to bring smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers – and at the same time make space for the platforms for the new Brent Cross West station, which is expected to open next year. This work will continue over both May bank holidays.

For this work to take place safely, sections of the line will need to be temporarily closed on Saturday 1st, Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd May.

No Thameslink trains will run between West Hampstead and Mill Hill Broadway. A replacement bus service will run between those stations. Replacement buses will also run between Luton/Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin, and between Harpenden/St Albans and Potters Bar, for services into London on the East Coast Mainline. East Midlands Railway (EMR) will also run a reduced service over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Additional improvements to upgrade the track will also take place during this time between Kettering Station and Kettering Depot.

On Saturday 1^st May trains to/from Corby will be running, but only between Kettering and Corby, meaning passengers will need to change at Kettering if travelling from Corby to St Pancras. This is also the case on the Monday 3^rd May. A bus service will replace trains between Kettering and Corby on Sunday 2nd May.

Some trains between Wellingborough and Kettering may run more slowly as a result of the weekend work, leading to extended journey times for some passengers.

Passengers who need to travel can find out how their journeys will be affected via National Rail Enquiries, with their train operator or by following #MayBHWorks on Twitter.

Passengers who need to travel are strongly advised to check their journey in advance via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator and allow plenty of time.

ENDS