Network Rail to replace River Nene bridge deck in six-day Christmas closure near Northampton

Network Rail will close the West Coast Main Line between Northampton and Rugby for six days from Sunday 27 December 2026 to replace the bridge deck carrying the railway over the River Nene, a £9.3m renewal.

No trains will run between the two stations via Long Buckby until Friday 1 January 2027, Network Rail said in a release issued on 12 November. Rail replacement buses will run between Northampton and Rugby via Long Buckby for the duration of the closure.

The infrastructure owner described the structure as a life-expired, 65-year-old bridge deck. It said the renewal was designed to strengthen the resilience of the railway, protect the bridge from river erosion and minimise long-term maintenance.

Andy Johnson, Project Manager at Network Rail, said: "Our work to replace the bridge near Northampton will make the structure more resilient, improve safety and help make journeys more reliable."

The engineering

The existing 51-metre deck will be removed and replaced with a new structure incorporating modern waterproofing and improved drainage, according to Network Rail.

The job also involves removing and reinstalling sleepers, 400 metres of rail and 720 tonnes of ballast, and renewing two overhead line structures. Network Rail said it installed foundations and stanchions to support the overhead line equipment last weekend as preparation for the Christmas possession.

The River Nene has caused problems for the railway at Northampton before. In November 2024 the river burst its banks during Storm Bert, and Network Rail said at the time that tracks, signals and other railway equipment were submerged for many hours.

Wider West Coast programme

Network Rail said the bridge renewal was one of a series of upgrades on the route over the festive period. These include track drainage improvements in Crick Tunnel, Northamptonshire, and a power supply upgrade between North Wembley and Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, involving new overhead line wiring, high-voltage cabling and cable housing.

Further north, overhead power lines on the approaches to and through Birmingham New Street will be replaced between Thursday 24 December and Monday 28 December 2026, with no trains serving the station during that period. Network Rail said the closure marks the start of a £13m programme to replace overhead power lines, much of which date from the 1960s, with further work planned over Christmas 2027 and 2028.

Alongside the New Street work, Network Rail said it would invest £6.4m in replacing junction equipment and renewing 800 metres of track at Soho. A full timetable at New Street is due to resume on Tuesday 29 December.

Network Rail's national Christmas engineering work across Britain forms a £152m investment programme, according to its separate national release. Trains will not run on most routes in England on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as usual.

Train services

London Northwestern Railway services will run either side of the Northampton to Rugby closure: between London Euston and Northampton, and between Rugby and Birmingham International on 27 and 28 December, then Rugby and Birmingham New Street on 29, 30 and 31 December.

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience and commercial director at London Northwestern Railway, said rail replacement would operate between Rugby and Northampton via Long Buckby while the work takes place, and encouraged customers to check before travelling and allow extra time.

Chris Liptrot, Operations Director at Avanti West Coast, said there would be changes to the operator's timetable to and from London Euston between 24 December and Friday 1 January. Network Rail's release separately said Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway would run an amended timetable to and from Euston from 27 December up to and including Sunday 3 January 2027.

During the New Street closure, Avanti West Coast said its trains would run between London Euston and Birmingham International. National Rail lists Birmingham International, Wolverhampton, Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth, Worcestershire Parkway and Sandwell & Dudley as alternative stations.

Network Rail advised anyone travelling on the West Coast Main Line between 24 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 to check with their train operator and on the National Rail website. The Northampton to Rugby line is due to reopen after the six-day possession ends on Friday 1 January 2027.