Network Rail are delivering engineering works across the rail network during the Early May Bank Holiday weekend.
On Sunday 4 - Monday 5 May, trains will not operate between Milton Keynes Central – London Euston.
Travelling to/from London? You’re advised to travel either side of the weekend to avoid significant disruption, longer journey times and rail replacement bus services.
You can find a full summary of service changes and alternative travel arrangements for this period below.
Early May Bank Holiday: Sunday 4 May - Monday 5 May
Customers travelling between Milton Keynes and London, including connecting journeys, are advised to travel via rail replacement buses between Milton Keynes Central and Bedford, connecting with EMR/GTR services to London St Pancras.
Journeys via this route will be faster and more frequent than alternate routes.
Rail replacement buses will operate between Milton Keynes Central and Potters Bar (via Watford Junction) for customers travelling to and from intermediate stations. At Potters Bar, customers will be able to travel on connecting GTR services to and from London Kings Cross.
- Rail replacement buses will operate on the Abbey line between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey.
Customers travelling between Milton Keynes and London, including connecting journeys, are advised to travel via rail replacement buses between Milton Keynes Central and Bedford, connecting with EMR/GTR services to London St Pancras.
Journeys via this route will be faster and more frequent than alternate routes.
- A limited train service will operate between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction for customers travelling to and from intermediate stations. Rail replacement buses will operate between Watford Junction and Potters Bar, connecting with GTR services to and from London Kings Cross.
Travel Advice
- Given the disruption, we recommend that you plan to travel either side of the Bank Holiday weekend wherever possible.
- If you must travel to/from London, we recommend that you use rail replacement services between Milton Keynes – Bedford and make onward connections via East Midlands Railway and GTR services to London St Pancras.
- If you’re travelling to/from intermediate stations between Milton Keynes – London Euston, you’re advised to use rail replacement buses between Milton Keynes – Watford Junction - Potters Bar (onward connections to/from London are available via GTR services).
- Other operators’ services are also impacted by this engineering work. Avanti West Coast will also be operating rail replacement bus services between Milton Keynes – Bedford. Visit nationalrail.co.uk for more info.
Ticket Acceptance
- Valid tickets for travel to/from London will be accepted on rail replacement buses between Milton Keynes – Bedford and Watford Junction.
- Your ticket will also be accepted for use on the following routes:
- East Midlands Railway and GTR services between Bedford – London St Pancras
- GTR services between Potters Bar - London Kings Cross
Rail Replacement Bus Locations
- Directional videos displaying walking routes to our rail replacement bus locations are detailed below:
Rail Replacement Bus Information
- You require a valid rail ticket to travel on a rail replacement bus.
- All of our rail replacement vehicles are fully accessible.
- Animals are not permitted on rail replacement buses (except for assistance animals).
- Large items of luggage and non-folding bicycles are not permitted onboard rail replacement bus services.
- Food and drink may be taken onboard, however this is at the driver's discretion.
- All services will display the destination and 'rail replacement' wording.
- For more information on rail replacement services, click here.