Here is an update on the engineering work taking place on the West Coast mainline for all the Virgin Train users amongst you.

Full details after the jump.

Easter 2007 Engineering Work - West Coast

This is an update on the train, coach and customer service arrangements during engineering works over Easter 2007.

What is happening?

. Major engineering work at Rugby over four days with no trains from the Midlands and the North running into Euston on Good Friday 6 April to Easter Monday 9 April inclusive. This is all part of the work needed to deliver the new VHF timetable in December 2008.

. The West Coast is also affected by other engineering work at Wolverhampton and Glasgow. Added to this there is work on the Midland Main line into St Pancras on the Sunday and Monday.

. A recent change is that on Friday 6 April the route between Coventry and Birmingham International will now be open. CrossCountry services will run via Coventry but West Coast will still terminate at International.

What services will be running?

. Additional train services will run on Maundy Thursday 5 April and ticket restrictions will be lifted on afternoon services this day.

. From Good Friday 6 April to Easter Monday 9 April inclusive, we will run train services from the North to Birmingham International: at least three trains an hour from the North to Birmingham International (a Manchester, a Liverpool and a Glasgow/Preston).

. On the two busiest days (Good Friday and Easter Monday) we will run Pendolino shuttles every 20 minutes between Euston and Northampton, calling at Watford and Milton Keynes, linked with frequent direct coaches between Northampton and Birmingham International to connect with trains at International. Virgin Value tickets to and from the North are available on these two days via Northampton.

. As on Spring Bank Holiday 2006 we have been working with CrossCountry to create more seats on their Manchester to Birmingham and Bournemouth routes for North West customers. This is very important as services on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 April are considerably reduced on the Midland Main line. Customers fromManchester and the North West should not be advised to travel to and from St Pancras on these days as it will be very busy.

Are there any rail replacement coach services?

. Coach services will be very similar to the ones successfully operated for the Spring Bank Holiday last year.

. Rugby and Coventry will have coach services to International for trains to New Street and the North.

. Coventry to Leamington coach services will connect with CrossCountry and Chiltern services.

. Coaches will run between Rugby and Kettering on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April to connect with Midland Main Line services to London St Pancras and between Rugby and Northampton on Friday 6 and Monday 9 April to connect with special Virgin Trains services to London Euston.

What are the key messages for our customers?

. That there is major engineering work taking place at Rugby over four days with no through Virgin Trains services from the Midlands and the North running into London Euston on Good Friday 6 April to Easter Monday 9 April inclusive.

. Extra trains run on Maundy Thursday 5 April with Saver ticket restrictions lifted in the afternoon.

. On the two busiest days (Good Friday and Easter Monday), Virgin Trains will run a Pendolino service between Euston and Northampton linked with a frequent direct coach service between Northampton and Birmingham International to connect with trains to the North.

Virgin Value tickets will be available on these services via Northampton (subject to availability).

. On Easter Sunday 8 April and Easter Monday 9 April there is a considerably reduced service on the Midland Main Line and customers from Manchester and the North West should be not be advised to travel to and from St Pancras on these two days but to use other routes.

. Customers travelling on any of these days to and from London should use alternative services.

. From Scotland, use GNER services.

. From the West Midlands, use Chiltern Railways services from Snow Hill or Moor Street to London Marylebone

. From the North West, use Virgin CrossCountry services to Leamington Spa or Reading and change for connecting services to London Marylebone or Paddington.

As an alternative on Friday 6 April and Monday 9 April, take a Virgin West Coast service to Birmingham International, from where frequent direct coaches will run to Northampton to connect with Pendolino services to London Euston with Virgin Value tickets available.

. Remember that travelling via Sheffield for St Pancras will be very busy especially on Monday 9 April due to the engineering work.

. Virgin Value tickets to and from Euston will only be valid on Friday 6 and Monday 9 April, and only via Northampton. They are not valid on other TOCs’ trains.

How are we and our customers being kept informed?

For customers:

. There have been articles in recent editions of West Coast Update and leaflets and posters are at stations

. The timetable information reservation systems have been open for sometime and Trainline and NRES have been kept informed.

Where can I find detailed timetables?

These are on the Forum.