A series of weekend engineering works will disrupt cross-border services on the West Coast Mainline this spring.

Network Rail engineers will carry out signalling upgrades and track improvements between Carstairs and the Scottish border from Sunday, March 30th, to Sunday, June 8th.

The work will include track renewal, drainage improvements, and infrastructure maintenance at locations like Abington, Thankerton, Symington, and Elvanfoot. Switches and crossings will also be renewed at Kirtlebridge.

Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh on the following dates: Sun 30 March; Sun 6 April; Sun 13 April; Easter Weekend (Sat 19 April to Mon 21 April); Sun 27 April; May Bank Holiday (Sat 3 May to Sun 4 May); Sat 10 & Sun 11 May; Sat 31 May & Sun 1 June… ]; Sun 8 June


Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: "The work we’re undertaking is vital to the long-term future of the line and will help to provide a more reliable railway for our passengers and freight customers."

Chris Liptrot, Operations Director at Avanti West Coast, said: During this time, there’ll be no direct trains to or from Glasgow and Edinburgh and as a result, we’ll be operating a reduced timetable north of Carlisle. Rail replacement services will also be in place."

Andrew McClements, customer experience and transformation director for TransPennine Express, said, "While this work is being carried out on the weekends and bank holidays, TransPennine Express will operate an amended timetable on its services between Liverpool/Manchester to Glasgow/Edinburgh via Preston and C arlisle." He also urged customers to check before they travel.