A large section of the railway south of Peterborough will be closed this weekend (22 and 23 November) to allow for further testing of digital signalling, passengers are reminded.
The work between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin in Hertfordshire will involve trains transitioning in and out of the digitally-controlled section.
Further work will develop the trackside equipment, under the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) introducing in-cab digital signalling on the line – delivering greener, safer and more reliable journeys for passengers.
Other work taking place on the same weekend, to use the period when trains are not running most effectively, includes track renewal at Letchworth Garden City, rerailing at Welwyn and Wymondley and drainage improvements at Stevenage.
It means that this weekend there will be no Grand Central services, while Hull Trains will operate an amended service running to and from London St Pancras.
LNER will have rail replacement coaches between Peterborough and Bedford, where customers can join train services to London St Pancras.
Lumo will operate an amended service between Edinburgh and Newcastle only.
There will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains between Potters Bar and Peterborough/Royston, or between Hertford North and Stevenage.
Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, ECDP, said: “The work taking place, including further testing, is part of our preparations for the introduction of digital in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line. We are also taking the opportunity to carry out vital work at other East Coast locations during the same weekend.
“We encourage passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel, and thank them for their patience and understanding of this work.”
A spokesperson for the train operators added: “We will be working hard to keep passengers on the move while this essential engineering work takes place. Rail replacement bus services and revised timetables will be in place to help people reach their destinations, and we’re encouraging everyone to check before they travel.”
Image credit: Network Rail
