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Monday 2 Nov 2026

Digital signalling and track upgrades on East Coast Main Line south of Peterborough

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Further digital signalling upgrade work alongside essential track and lineside improvements will mean no trains on the East Coast Main Line between Peterborough or Letchworth and London on the last weekend of November.

Passengers are advised to check before travelling as the engineering work on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November will mean rail replacement bus or coach services in operation for many journeys*.

Engineers will be carrying out a range of updates to the technology now being used for digital in-cab signalling on some services using the East Coast Main Line. The work is part of the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), which will replace traditional lineside signals with real‑time, continuous information delivered directly to the driver’s cab. Over the long term it will deliver more reliable, greener and even safer journeys.

Digital signalling for some services between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin in Hertfordshire began in August.

The work will see updates made to diagnostic systems, data and software to improve reliability. This will help prepare for more trains and services to begin using digital in-cab signalling during 2027.

There will also be a range of other essential track and lineside improvement work taking place, including:

• Further work to deliver step-free access at Alexandra Palace
• Renewal of track at New Southgate
• Track renewal near Potters Bar
• Station canopy work at Bowes Park
• Improvements to overhead line electrical equipment at various locations

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail head of access integration (ECDP) said:

“We have begun to introduce digital in-cab signalling to the East Coast Main Line and we’re getting ready to extend its use to more services. When all trains operate with digital signalling there will be reliability benefits through less reliance on trackside equipment and better ability to recover from disruption. We are also taking the opportunity to do other vital engineering work on the track and lineside to improve the reliability of day-to-day services.

“We’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected. Those customers who have choice about when they can travel may want to consider travelling on days before or after, which are unaffected by work. For those who need to travel on the affected weekend, we have plans in place to keep passengers moving.”

A spokesperson for the train operators said:

“We’re working with Network Rail to help passengers plan their journeys while these important upgrades take place. No trains will be able to run on the East Coast Main Line between Peterborough or Letchworth Garden City and London on 28-29 November. Passengers should check before they travel and allow extra time, as services will be significantly altered and rail replacement services will be in operation for many journeys.”

Passengers using rail replacement services are reminded to only bring luggage they can carry comfortably, which doesn’t exceed the limits of the operator they are travelling with, and be mindful of transfer times between train and bus/coach.

Check details of all parts of your journey with your train operator or National Rail before travelling.