Are trains running on Easter? Bank Holiday travel advice

National Rail has urged Brits to plan their journeys in advance and check before they travel.

The rail network has advised that there are planned essential engineering works and upgrades over the Easter weekend. 

Some train services will be affected by the works and passengers have been told to expect some disruption on many routes between Good Friday (Friday 29 March) and Easter Monday (Monday 1 April) inclusive.

Are trains running over the Easter Bank Holiday? (PA Video/PA Wire) (Image: PA Video/PA Wire)

As a result of the engineering works and the Bank Holiday, some train companies will be making changes to their timetable and some train times.

The changes are reportedly being made to match services to the number of customers travelling.

You can plan your journey and check services via the National Rail website.

What engineering works are being made during the Easter weekend?

National Rail has said that there are a "considerable number" of engineering and improvement projects that will be undertaken during the Easter bank holiday weekend from March 29 to April 1. 

You can see all the upcoming works via the National Rail website.

London Euston - Milton Keynes Central: Engineering work will partially close the West Coast Main Line on this busy route between the Midlands / north west England / Scotland and London. Your journey to and from London will be significantly disrupted.

London Liverpool Street - Colchester: Construction work is taking place for the new Beaulieu Park station, plus track maintenance work. Train services between London and many East Anglia locations, including Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester, will be replaced by buses for part of the journey.

Elizabeth line: Engineering work will close the busy Elizabeth line through central London, between London Paddington and Stratford / Abbey Wood.

Train strike dates to know in April 2024

Industrial action by the ASLEF Union is taking place from Thursday, April 4 to Tuesday, April 9.

Train operators are expected to strike in the following days:

• Friday 5 April - Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway
• Saturday 6 April - Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express

Recommended reading

• UK drivers warned over Easter weekend travel as 14 million getaways planned
• Brits urged to do one simple check this Easter Bank Holiday or risk being fined
• All the places kids can eat for free or £1 in Easter half term (Asda and more)

• Monday 8 April - c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), Great Northern, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway (including Island Line) and Thameslink

The above train operators will have an overtime ban from Thursday 4 April to Saturday 6 April, and from Monday 8 April to Tuesday 9 April.

Strike action was also announced by tube train drivers who are members of the ASLEF Union for Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May.