Media centre

Tuesday 9 Feb 2021

King’s Uncrossed- Crucial stage of £1.2billion East Coast Upgrade fast approaching

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

• No trains in or out of King’s Cross station on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February, ahead of crucial stage of work to simplify track layout between March and June
• Work is part of East Coast Upgrade, which will transform journeys between London, Cambridge and Peterborough as well as the North of England and Scotland
• Passengers who must travel for essential reasons urged to check their journeys.

Network Rail teams are gearing up to carry out a major stage of the £1.2billion upgrade to the East Coast Main Line, which is the biggest investment into the route in a generation.

Between Friday 26 and Sunday 28 February (inclusive), essential changes will be made to the tracks and signalling in the area. During this time, no trains will run to or from London King’s Cross, Moorgate or to or from St Pancras International via Finsbury Park.

• Friday 26 February – Trains to and from Cambridge and Peterborough will start and end at Potters Bar, where passengers can connect to London Underground services. Trains to and from Welwyn Garden City will start and end at New Barnet and services to and from Stevenage via Hertford North will start and end at Gordon Hill.
• Saturday 27 February – Trains to and from Cambridge and Peterborough will start and end at Stevenage. Trains to and from Stevenage via Hertford North will start and end at Gordon Hill. 
• Sunday 28 February – Trains to and from Cambridge and Peterborough will start and end at Hitchin. Services to and from Stevenage via Hertford North will be extended to Letchworth Garden City and will start and end at Gordon Hill.

Additional improvements to the track are also taking place on Sunday 14 February, which means buses will replace trains between Peterborough and Hitchin. On Sunday 21 February, no trains will run between Stevenage and Alexandra Palace.

People must continue to follow the latest Government guidance and stay at home, except for limited reasons. Those who need to make essential journeys are strongly advised to check before travelling via National Rail Enquiries, at EastCoastUpgrade.co.uk or on Great Northern and Thameslink’s websites.

Passengers are also encouraged to allow plenty of time as journeys will take longer and passengers may need to change trains or use replacement bus services. To support social distancing, there may also be queuing systems at some stations.

This work will allow hundreds of rail workers to simplify the track layout at King’s Cross station between March and June. They will also reopen a railway tunnel which closed in the 1970s, creating two extra tracks in and out of the iconic transport hub. Both pieces of work will make it easier for trains to enter and exit King’s Cross station, reducing congestion and creating smoother, more reliable and more punctual journeys for passengers.

There may be some changes to train times and passengers making essential journeys over the next three months are strongly advised to check before travelling. There will also be two weekends, one in April and one in June, when no trains will be able to call at London King’s Cross. A full service will run once more from Monday 7 June.

Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s East Coast Upgrade, said: “Our teams are busy making sure that everything is ready for the latest stage of this industry leading project. The work we’re doing at the end of this month is vital to enable train services to run in and out of King’s Cross station when we close half of the platforms between March and June.

“This East Coast Upgrade is a truly transformative programme, which will bring significant and tangible benefits, such as more reliable journeys on the East Coast Main Line. Once again like to thank all those impacted by this work for their patience.”

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director at Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “Just 15% of the normal number of people are travelling with us at the moment due to coronavirus restrictions. I would urge anyone whose journey is essential to plan ahead for this three-day closure of King’s Cross station which includes a weekday, Friday. Advice for passengers is available online now and our staff will be ready to help on the day.”

ENDS