No trains between Northampton and Rugby for six days over Christmas due to £9.3m bridge replacement

Rail passengers travelling between Northampton and Rugby face six days of disruption over Christmas as a £9.3 million project to replace an ageing railway bridge gets underway.

No trains will operate between the two stations via Long Buckby from Sunday, December 27, until Friday, January 1, with replacement buses running throughout the closure.

The disruption will affect passengers travelling towards Birmingham and London Euston, with amended timetables also operating across the West Coast Main Line.

Network Rail is replacing a 65-year-old bridge deck carrying the railway across the River Nene, with the work intended to improve reliability and reduce future maintenance.

The existing 51-metre structure will be removed and replaced with a new deck featuring improved drainage and waterproofing to protect against river erosion.

Engineers will also replace 400 metres of rail, sleepers and 720 tonnes of ballast, alongside renewing two overhead line structures.

Preparatory work has already taken place, including the installation of foundations and supports for overhead electrical equipment.

Andy Johnson, Network Rail project manager, said: “Our work to replace the bridge near Northampton will make the structure more resilient, improve safety and help make journeys more reliable.”

London Northwestern Railway will operate services between London Euston and Northampton, and between Rugby and Birmingham, with replacement buses connecting the two sections.

Other Christmas engineering projects include drainage improvements at Crick Tunnel and electrical upgrades elsewhere on the network.

Birmingham New Street will also close to trains between December 24 and 28 for major overhead power line works.

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway will operate amended timetables until January 3.

Passengers are advised to allow extra travelling time and check nationalrail.co.uk before setting off.