Network Rail Improvement Work Means Changes to Virgin Trains' Services at Spring Bank Holiday Weekend

LONDON, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- There will be alterations to services over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend because of route improvement work but the principal travel days of Friday and Bank Holiday Monday afternoon and evening will see normal weekday services operating.

On the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the holiday weekend there will be work taking place at various times between Euston and Rugby, Coventry and Birmingham International, Crewe and Liverpool, Crewe and Wigan, and between Oxenholme and Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Saturday, 28 May

Because of route improvement work between Crewe and Wigan and between Oxenholme and Glasgow/Edinburgh services from London Euston to Glasgow Central will terminate at Crewe and services from Birmingham to Glasgow/Edinburgh will be diverted via Manchester and terminate at Preston. There will be a train shuttle service between Wigan and Oxenholme. Rail replacement coach services will run between Crewe and Warrington and Warrington and Wigan for local journeys. There will also be replacement coach services between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Sunday 29 May

Because of route improvement work between Euston and Rugby involving the closure of two out of the normal four lines, Euston to Birmingham and Euston to Manchester services will be reduced to two services per hour instead of the normal three per hour that would normally operate from lunchtime over these two routes. There will be no direct services between Euston and Chester while Euston to Holyhead services will run between Chester and Holyhead only.

The line between Coventry and Birmingham International will be closed all day and trains from Euston to the West Midlands will be diverted via Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton. Replacement coaches will run between Rugby and Birmingham International serving Coventry.

The line in the Runcorn area will be closed to allow route improvement work to take place. Euston to Liverpool services will run as far as Crewe from where customers will need to take a replacement coach service to Liverpool also serving Runcorn.

Because of route improvement work between Crewe and Wigan and between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh services from London Euston to Glasgow Central will terminate at Crewe. Services from Birmingham to Glasgow/Edinburgh will not run. There will be a train shuttle service between Wigan and Oxenholme. Rail replacement coach services will run between Crewe, Warrington and Wigan with some fast coaches from Crewe direct to Preston. There will also be replacement coach services between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Bank Holiday Monday 30 May

Because of route improvement work between Euston and Rugby until 12:00 involving the closure of two out of the normal four lines, Euston to Birmingham/Wolverhampton and Euston to Manchester services will be reduced to two services per hour instead of the normal three per hour that would normally operate over these two routes

The line between Coventry and Birmingham International will be closed until 12:00 and trains from Euston to the West Midlands will be diverted via Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton. Replacement coaches will run between Rugby and Birmingham International serving Coventry.

The line in the Runcorn area will be closed until 12:00 to allow route improvement work to take place. Euston to Liverpool services will run as far as Runcorn from where customers will need to take a replacement coach service to Liverpool.

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Virgin Trains has been recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2010 the company has been named Best Rail Operator of the Year at the Travel Globe Awards (voted for by readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard), and Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also won in 2009). In 2009 we were also voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running. Virgin Trains first achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007 and this was renewed in 2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011.

SOURCE Virgin Trains