Media centre

Thursday 14 May 2026

Engineering work at sliding bridge will affect services this weekend

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: North & East

Improvement work at Keadby sliding railway bridge will mean changes to journeys between Doncaster and Cleethorpes this weekend (16-17 May).

The unique structure – connecting South Yorkshire with Scunthorpe and the Lincolnshire coast – is on one of the UK’s busiest freight routes.

Network Rail will be installing a new track system and undertaking upgrades to some mechanical equipment, which will improve the alignment of the rails, allowing for smoother and more reliable journeys over the bridge.

The work means that on Saturday and Sunday, TransPennine Express services will run between Liverpool Lime Street and Doncaster only. A replacement bus service will run between Doncaster and Scunthorpe/Cleethorpes.

Northern services on Saturday will run between Doncaster and Hatfield & Stainforth only. A replacement bus service will operate between Hatfield & Stainforth and Scunthorpe. Additional trains will run between Sheffield and Cleethorpes via Gainsborough Central. Northern do not run on the route between Doncaster and Scunthorpe on Sundays.

In addition, track renewal is taking place south of Elsham, Lincolnshire throughout next week. This will mean trains from Liverpool Lime Street will terminate at Scunthorpe, with rail replacement buses operating between Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes from Monday 18 to Friday 22 May.

Karen Duffy, Network Rail operations director, said:

“Keadby sliding bridge is a vital link for both passenger and freight services, and this work will help ensure it continues to operate reliably for years to come. By improving the alignment of the track, we can deliver smoother journeys and reduce the need for future maintenance. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this essential work takes place and encourage them to check before they travel.”

A spokesperson for TransPennine Express and Northern said:

“We’re working closely with Network Rail to support these important improvements. While services will be amended over the weekend and into next week, these upgrades will help provide more reliable journeys in future. We’d like to thank customers for their understanding and encourage them to plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling.”

The work this weekend follows a number of mechanical and structural improvements made in the past 12 months at Keadby sliding bridge, which spans the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. This included repainting the structure white to reduce heat absorption. Maintenance activity remains at a heightened level to help ensure the structure – dating back to the 1860s and converted to a sliding bridge in 1925 – operates as reliably as possible.