Easter Bank Holiday: EMR services may be busier than normal due to engineering works on the West Coast Main Line and travelling football fans

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is advising customers that services are expected to be busier than usual over the Easter period due to engineering work taking place on the West Coast Main Line.

The work will take place from Friday 3 April to Wednesday 8 April and, while EMR services are not directly affected, more customers are likely to travel via EMR routes instead, particularly on services between Sheffield, Derby and London St Pancras, as well as between Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.

As a result, stations including London St Pancras, Sheffield, Bedford and Derby are expected to be significantly busier than usual.

A queuing system will be in place at London St Pancras, and customers may not always be able to board their intended service.

Separately, on Monday 6 April, services between Stoke and Derby will be extremely busy due to football supporters. Customers who are not travelling to the football should avoid travelling between 8am and 1pm from Stoke, and 5pm and 7pm from Derby unless necessary, as trains will be exceptionally busy with football supporters.

Customers are therefore strongly encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys and to check travel information before setting off.

Customers who normally travel to or from London using the West Coast Main Line are strongly advised to use rail replacement bus services between Milton Keynes and Bedford, and make onward connections via EMR and Thameslink services to London St Pancras.

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming customers onto our services over the Easter Bank Holiday, and we want to reassure people that they can continue to travel with EMR as normal.

“However, due to engineering work affecting other routes into London, our services are expected to be much busier than usual.

“We encourage customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and be prepared for busier trains and stations, particularly at key locations such as London St Pancras, Sheffield and Bedford.

“Customers who would normally travel to or from London using the West Coast Main Line are strongly advised to use rail replacement bus services between Milton Keynes and Bedford.”

Customers can find the latest travel information and plan their journeys in advance via EMR’s website - https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-alterations/easter-bank-holiday-services-tofrom-london-st-pancras-and