All you need to know about Christmas 2025 and New Year trains and buses in Northampton
Train passengers wanting to travel to and from Northampton over Christmas and the New Year face another festive season of frustration with longer journeys on rail replacement buses.
Operator London Northwestern Railway warned that engineering work at Hanslope Junction to “future-proof” services between the town and Milton Keynes will close the West Coast Main Line from Christmas Eve until well into the New Year, forcing anybody heading to see family, the sales or events in London onto rail replacement buses for part of the journey.
The work, part of a £26million programme of upgrades, will sever the direct link between Northampton and MK and London for 11 days in a row. Avanti West Coast services will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes — and northbound from Northampton.
The good news for travellers is that — unlike last year — trains from Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Bedford will run as normal and can be used as alternatives.
Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s route director for the West Coast South route, said: “This Christmas and New Year we’re investing in major upgrades to keep the West Coast Main Line safe, reliable and fit for the future. The work at Hanslope Junction is one of the most significant projects and by carrying it out during a quieter travel period we can deliver improvements that will benefit passengers and freight for decades to come.”
Journeys to and from London Euston will be affected from the afternoon of December 24 until the morning of January 5 while engineers work around the clock — including on Christmas Day. Northampton Saints fans attempting to travel to Bath for the club’s PREM game on Saturday December 27 are likely to have to set out even earlier.
What’s happening at Hanslope Junction?
Hanslope Junction is a vital section of the railway carrying over 3,300 passenger and freight services every week. Workers will…
■ Replace large sections of track and strengthen foundations beneath it by installing over 12,500 tonnes of new ballast stone to support the track.
■ Deliver and install more than 130 track panels, some pre-built off-site and others assembled on location.
■ Use specialist machinery to lift and position new track across all four lines.
To make the most of the closure, engineers will deliver additional improvements at Milton Keynes Central and Wolverton stations and upgrade track near Roade with the installation of more than a mile of new rails.
What should passengers do?
Train operators say plan ahead using www.nationalrail.co.uk. Bus journeys between Northampton and Milton Keynes take around 35 minutes compared to 17 minutes by train but it takes extra time to reach the platforms.
What about on the buses?
Bus operator Stagecoach says its routes in and around Northampton will begin winding down from 8pm on Christmas Eve and regular midweek timetables will only return on January 5.
No buses will run on Christmas Day nor Boxing Day while a Saturday service will operate on Monday December 29 and Tuesday December 30. New Year’s Eve will also see Saturday timetables although later buses after 8pm will be withdrawn with no service on New Year’s Day. Saturday services will also run on Friday January 2.