The West Coast Main Line has reopened to passengers after six days of major railway improvements between Milton Keynes and London Euston.

On Thursday (9 April) trains started running again after multiple projects to upgrade stations, tracks, signalling systems, overhead power lines and bridges took place, representing an ongoing investment of £46.7m.

The journey-improving work carried out by Network Rail and its supply chain over the Easter period include:

In addition, teams based in the North West of England completed signalling and overhead line upgrades between Preston and Oxenholme last weekend (4 and 5 April).

The work on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line is part of a wider £400m investment into Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight railway over the next several years.

Meanwhile passengers planning journeys on the line north of Preston between Saturday 11 and Sunday 19 April are being reminded of more journey-improving upgrades which will impact travel.

That will see overhead lines replaced over eight days between Preston, Lancaster and Fylde.

Once again Network Rail and train operators have worked together to keep passengers on the move – trying to keep them on trains for the majority of their journeys where possible.

Avanti West Coast will divert trains on the iconic Settle & Carlisle line. Replacement buses and some limited train services will also run.

Passengers are urged to plan their journeys in advance by checking www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we’ve been carrying out these major railway upgrades between Milton Keynes and Euston over the last six days.

“We were able to use that time to carry out some really complex and important projects which are only possible during a full railway closure. These are all part of our commitment to investment hundreds of millions of pounds into the West Coast Main Line by upgrading tracks, stations, overhead power lines, structures and signalling systems to keep the railway running smoothly, safely and reliably in the years to come.”

For more information on how Network Rail maintains and upgrades the railway you can visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/looking-after-the-railway/

*A temporary speed limit is in place over the newly installed track at Willesden Junction meaning trains are travelling over the new infrastructure at a slower speed of 20mph, with a view to increase that to 50mph this evening. As is standard practice after such a significant renewal, that 50mph could be in place for several weeks while the new infrastructure beds in and follow up railway foundation stone settling work using trains called tampers can take place, although will be regularly reviewed and lifted sooner if possible.