Wednesday 5 Aug 2026
East Midlands rail upgrades to affect journeys across two August weekends
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
- | Eastern: East Midlands
An investment of £5.46 million in railway improvements in the East Midlands will affect passenger journeys over two weekends.
Network Rail teams will be carrying out engineering work in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire on Saturday 15, Sunday 16, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August.
Northern will have rail replacement buses running between Sheffield and Nottingham.
East Midlands Railway will have an amended timetable on the Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route with trains not calling at Ilkeston, Langley Mill, Alfreton, and there will be a significantly reduced service for Sheffield. Passengers for these stations can use Northern’s rail replacement buses at no extra cost.
The improvements will include:
- renewal of 495 metres of drainage at Alfreton, Derbyshire to help prevent flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, supporting safer, more reliable services for passengers.
- renewal of a set of several points – the sections of track which allow trains to move between lines – at Blackwell South Junction, Derbyshire.
- refurbishment of seven sets of points at Trowell Junction on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, extending the safe operational life of the assets.
Eric Larocque, Network Rail operations director, said:
“These upgrades represent a significant investment which will help make the railway more reliable for passenger and freight services in the East Midlands. By renewing assets including drainage systems, and renewing and refurbishing points, we’re investing in infrastructure that will help reduce the impact of flooding, improve performance and keep trains moving safely.
“We’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected. We’re grateful for passengers’ patience while we carry out the work, and we’re encouraging people to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling.”
A spokesperson for Northern and East Midlands Railway said:
“We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep customers moving while the work takes place. We encourage customers to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys. We’d like to thank passengers for their understanding while these important upgrades are carried out.”
Check before you travel with your train operator or use the National Rail Journey Planner.
EMR passengers are reminded that strike action is planned for Saturday 15 August. Click here for more information.
Notes to Editors
East Midlands Railway
Both weekends: There will be an amended timetable on the Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route with trains not calling at Alfreton, Langley Mill or Ilkeston and there will be a significantly reduced service for Sheffield. Passengers for these stations can use Northern rail replacement buses at no extra cost.
Saturday 15 August:
- The 06.53 Derby to Sheffield train will start from Derby later than scheduled at 07.20, it will continue to run up to 27 minutes later through to Chesterfield where it will terminate at 07.42.
- The 06.33 Sheffield to London St Pancras service will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 06.26. It will continue to run seven minutes early through to Derby, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 07.40 Sheffield to Norwich train will start from Chesterfield at 07.47.
- The 08.32 Sheffield to London St Pancras train will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 08.30. It will continue to run up to three minutes earlier through to Derby, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 20.30 Sheffield to Leicester train will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 20.27, it will continue to run up to three minutes earlier through to Derby, where it will return to its scheduled departure time.
- The 23.20 Sheffield to Derby train will arrive at Derby earlier than scheduled at 23.50.
Sunday 16 August:
- The 09.17 Nottingham to Matlock train will depart Derby earlier than scheduled at 09.51, it will continue to run up to three minutes earlier through to Whatstandwell, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 17.32 London St Pancras to Sheffield train will depart Derby later than scheduled at 19.19 and will continue to run up to 12 minutes later through to Sheffield.
- The 22.36 Sheffield to Derby train will depart Chesterfield later than scheduled at 22.54 and will arrive at Derby earlier than scheduled at 23.16.
Saturday 22 August:
- The 05.00 Nottingham to Norwich train will start later from Nottingham at 05.08 and will not call at East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray or Oakham and will call additionally at Grantham at 05.42.
- The 05.30 Sheffield to London St Pancras train will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 05.28, it will continue to run two minutes earlier to Market Harborough, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 06.08 Nottingham to Norwich train will start later from Nottingham at 06.14 and will not call at East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray or Oakham and will call additionally at Grantham at 06.58.
- The 06.33 Sheffield to London St Pancras train will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 06.26, it will continue to run seven minutes earlier through to Derby, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 06.53 Derby to Sheffield train will start from Derby later than scheduled at 07.20, it will continue to run up to 27 minutes later through to Chesterfield where it will terminate at 07.42.
- The 07.40 Sheffield to Norwich train will start from Chesterfield at 07.47.
- The 08.32 Sheffield to London St Pancras train will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 08.30, it will continue to run up to three minutes earlier through to Derby, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 20.30 Sheffield to Leicester train will depart Sheffield earlier than scheduled at 20.27 it will continue to run up to three minutes earlier through to Derby, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 23.20 Sheffield to Derby train will arrive at Derby earlier than scheduled at 23.50.
Sunday 23 August:
- The 09.17 Nottingham to Matlock train will depart Derby earlier than scheduled at 09.51, it will continue to run up to three minutes earlier through to Whatstandwell, where it will return to its scheduled time.
- The 17.32 London St Pancras to Sheffield train will depart Derby later than scheduled at 19.19, it will continue to run up to 12 minutes later through to Sheffield.
- The 22.36 Sheffield to Derby train will depart Chesterfield later than scheduled at 22.54, it will then arrive at Derby earlier than scheduled at 23.16.
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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