Leeds Festival 2026: CrossCountry rail improvement works to impact journeys this weekend ahead of music festival

In conjunction with the Leeds Festival this year, the CrossCountry rail improvement works will mean that journeys will be affected - here’s everything you need to know.

Customers travelling with CrossCountry this weekend are being urged to plan ahead and check before travelling, as planned engineering work across the rail network will significantly impact journeys between Saturday, August 29 and Monday, August 31, 2026.

There will be longer journey times and changes to services on many CrossCountry routes, particularly those through Birmingham, with HS2-related work closing the railway line between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway.

The work will see engineers install part of a new viaduct over the railway near Water Orton. The existing structure is being rebuilt to accommodate the future HS2 railway while also improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Additionally on Sunday, planned track improvements to make sure journeys are smooth and reliable between Wolverhampton and Stafford will result in the operation of rail replacement buses between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Engineering work elsewhere on the network is expected to increase demand for CrossCountry services as customers look for alternative routes to and from London. Strike action by other operators will also mean reduced levels of service in some areas.

With a range of events and sporting fixtures taking place across the country, the bank holiday weekend is expected to be especially busy, with thousands of people also travelling by train to and from Reading and Leeds Festivals, and to Manchester Village Pride.

Festival trolleys are not permitted on CrossCountry services, and customers travelling with a trolley will be asked to collapse it and remove their luggage before boarding.

CrossCountry’s customer and commercial director, Mark Anderson, said: “This essential engineering work will help keep the railway resilient and ready for the future, ensuring passengers can continue to enjoy smooth and reliable journeys.

“From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, journeys through Birmingham New Street will take longer, with some journeys also requiring rail replacement bus services.

“We'd like to thank customers for their patience while this work takes place. I'd ask customers to leave more time for their journeys and make sure they don't bring too much luggage - trolleys, in particular, won't be allowed on board CrossCountry services.”

Customers can find the latest travel updates on the CrossCountry website, via the CrossCountry app, or through National Rail Enquiries.

Director of On Network Works for Network Rail and HS2, Patrick Cawley, said: “This August bank holiday, HS2 teams will carry out another important phase of work to replace Saltley Viaduct, a structure which spans one of the busiest railway corridors in the Midlands.

“The existing structure is being rebuilt to make way for Britain's new high-speed railway into Birmingham. We'd like to thank passengers for their patience while this work takes place and encourage everyone travelling over the bank holiday weekend to check before they travel.”