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Tuesday 29 Aug 2023

Key rail upgrades set to take place between Newcastle and Edinburgh

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Network Rail and train operators on the East Coast Main Line are urging passengers to check before travelling as key upgrades take place on the route between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Across four consecutive weekends in September and October, teams from Network Rail will be working to boost reliability on the northern end of the East Coast Main Line.

The work will see upgrades to the track, including work to renew switches and crossings, the specialist piece of equipment which allows trains to move from one piece of track to another.

Teams will also be improving overhead line equipment, as well as working to improve drainage and remove vegetation.

The work will help to boost reliability in this area, creating a more resilient railway and delivering smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers.

To allow the work to take place safely, no trains will be able to run on the East Coast Main Line between Newcastle and Edinburgh on:

• Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September 2023
• Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September 2023
• Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2023
• Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October 2023

To keep passengers moving, coach replacement services will be in place between Newcastle and Edinburgh via Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston and Dunbar, as well as between Newcastle and Morpeth/Chathill. Diversion routes will also be in operation, which will increase journey times. LNER will be operating a reduced service between Scotland and Newcastle and is advising customers to make seat reservations as services are expected to be popular.

Passengers planning on travelling on these dates are urged to plan ahead and check before travelling via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.

Jason Hamilton, Route Programme Director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “This work is vital and will help to boost reliability on this historic rail route, and improve journeys for all those using the East Coast Main Line.

“These upgrades do mean there will be significant changes to services on these dates, so we would urge passengers to plan ahead and check before travelling so they can see how their journeys are going to be affected.

“We’d like to thank all those impacted for their patience whilst this crucial work takes place.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on routes affected said: “The work between Newcastle and Edinburgh will result in disruption to services across four weekends in September and October, so we urge passengers to follow the advice given and check their journey before travelling.

“Rail replacement services and diversion routes will be in place to keep people moving but this will result in longer journey times and services may be busier than usual.”