Digital signalling project’s progress will affect August bank holiday journeys

Wednesday 5 Aug 2026

Digital signalling project’s progress will affect August bank holiday journeys

Region & Route:: Eastern; | Eastern: East Coast

Further testing ahead of digital signalling being introduced on the East Coast Main Line will affect journeys on the August bank holiday weekend.

Engineering work will affect passenger journeys south of Peterborough towards London between 20.00 on Saturday 29 August and 08.00 on Monday 31 August, with rail replacement bus services in operation for some journeys.*

The work forms the final stages of testing ahead of the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme’s introduction of digital in-cab signalling – replacing traditional lineside “traffic light” signals with real‑time information sent directly into the driver’s cab. Over the long term it will deliver more reliable, greener and even safer journeys.

Digital signalling was successfully introduced on the Northern City Line in London in 2025 and will first be in use on the East Coast Main Line between Welwyn and Hitchin this summer.

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

“The work taking place involves the final preparations for us to begin a gradual introduction of digital in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line. The ability to control trains in this way will enable a more resilient and reliable railway that is fit for the future.

“We have carefully planned this work to avoid the busiest times of the August bank holiday weekend, and where possible passengers may be able to avoid this disruption by travelling before or after Sunday 30 August.

“We’re sorry to anyone whose journey is affected and grateful to passengers for their patience and understanding.”

A spokesperson for the train operators said:

“We’ve worked closely together and with Network Rail to keep customers moving and minimise disruption wherever possible. We encourage customers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling so they can choose the option that best suits them."

On Sunday 30 August, LNER will divert two return services from Newcastle to Bedford for the first time, allowing passengers to transfer onto Thameslink services to London St Pancras. This will enable about 2,500 customers to make their full journey by train thanks to significant work from rail colleagues across the industry. These trains are in addition to other existing LNER services planned to operate on the day.

Check all parts of your journey with National Rail Enquiries or your train operators before travelling.

Lift refurbishment at London St Pancras means there is currently no step-free access to or from the Thameslink platforms at London St Pancras. Get further information and alternative routes for those requiring step-free access.

Notes to Editors

*Full travel details:

Grand Central: Saturday – The 17.32 Sunderland to London King’s Cross will not run.

Sunday – No Grand Central service will operate.

Monday – The 07.48 London King’s Cross to Sunderland will not run. The following trains will operate additionally:

16.56 Bradford Interchange to London King’s Cross
21.15 London King’s Cross to York

Great Northern/Thameslink: From approximately 22.00 on Saturday evening, all day Sunday, and until approximately 08.00 Monday morning, no trains will run between Potters Bar/Hertford North and Letchworth Garden City/Peterborough.

A revised train service will run between:

Letchworth Garden City and Cambridge/Kings Lynn
Moorgate and Hertford North/Potters Bar
London Kings Cross and Potters Bar
Brighton and Finsbury Park
Horsham and London Bridge/Finsbury Park (Saturday evening/Monday morning only)

Replacement buses will run between:

Hitchin and Peterborough, calling at all stations
Bedford and Peterborough, calling at St Neots and Huntingdon
Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City
Luton Airport Parkway and Stevenage via Hitchin
St Albans City and Stevenage calling at Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North and Knebworth
Hertford North and Stevenage, calling at Watton-at-Stone
Potters Bar and Hitchin, calling at all stations (Saturday evening/all day Sunday only)
Potters Bar and Welwyn Garden City, calling at all stations (Monday morning only)

Hull Trains: Unaffected by engineering work on Saturday.

Sunday - A reduced service will run to/from London St Pancras. As a result of this, trains will not call at Beverley/Cottingham/Doncaster/Retford/Grantham or Stevenage.

Monday – The 07.18 service from London Kings Cross to Hull will depart later at 07.25 and will arrive in Hull at 10.22.

LNER: A revised timetable will operate, with trains starting/terminating at Peterborough. A bus service will run between Peterborough and Bedford, for connections into/out of London St Pancras. This will also impact late Saturday evening, and early Monday morning.

On Sunday only, a limited LNER service (two trains in each direction) will also operate between Newcastle and Bedford, via Doncaster, also connecting with Thameslink services to/from London St Pancras.

Customers travelling to/from stations on the LNER route in Scotland, the North East, North and West Yorkshire to/from central London on this date are advised to avoid travel via Sheffield and Chesterfield, as CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway services on this route will be extremely busy.

Lumo: Saturday – The 17.21 Edinburgh to London King’s Cross service will not run.

Sunday – A reduced/amended service will operate between Newcastle and Edinburgh/Glasgow Queen Street.

Monday – The 05.45 departure from London King’s Cross will start from Newcastle. The 06.26 departure from Edinburgh will terminate at Newcastle.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Gareth Dennison
Media relations manager, Eastern region
Network Rail
07561 874858
gareth.dennison@networkrail.co.uk

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