Passengers are advised that buses will replace trains between Kettering and Loughborough next weekend (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September) while Network Rail carries out important railway improvements.
Engineers will renew about 350 metres of track alongside Platform 3 at Leicester station. The work involves excavating and replacing the underlying stone and supporting layers beneath the track, helping to provide a more reliable railway and a smoother ride for passengers. Specialist engineering and maintenance trains, and a rail-mounted crane will be used to complete the work.
Over the same weekend, specialist maintenance machines to realign and compact the track at Knighton Junction. This work improves track quality, helps trains run more smoothly and reduces the need for future maintenance, supporting a more reliable railway for passengers and freight operators.
The work will affect train services as follows:
Saturday 19 September
- Trains between Leicester and Nottingham will run between Loughborough and Nottingham only.
- Rail replacement buses will run between Leicester and Loughborough, calling at Syston, Sileby and Barrow-upon-Soar.
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September
- Buses will replace trains between Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester and Loughborough.
- A reduced service of one train per hour will run between London St Pancras and Wellingborough.
- A reduced service of one train per hour will run between London St Pancras and Nottingham/Sheffield. These services will not call at Market Harborough or Leicester but will make additional stops at Wellingborough and Corby.
Eric Larocque, Network Rail operations director, said: “We’re sorry to passengers who will be affected by these upgrades. The improvements at Leicester station and Knighton Junction will help provide a smoother, more reliable railway by improving track quality and reducing the need for future maintenance.
“We encourage anyone planning to travel over the weekend of 19 and 20 September to check their journey before setting off, as buses will replace trains on parts of the route and journey times may be longer than usual.”
Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We recommend that customers planning to travel to or from London on Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September allow plenty of extra time for their journeys and check the EMR website for any updates before they travel.
“Services are expected to be busier than usual due to the reduced train service, with rail replacement buses operating between Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester and Loughborough. Leicester station will be closed throughout the weekend, with no access to the platforms while Network Rail carries out track work on platform 3.
“We thank our customers for their patience and understanding while these important improvement works are carried out.”
Passengers should also note that emergency bridge repairs will close the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Watford Junction until 4pm on Sunday 20 September.
Image credit: Network Rail
