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Monday 10 Apr 2006

KING’S CROSS STATION TO CLOSE FOR MAJOR RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Region & Route:

| Eastern

King’s Cross Station will close over three weekends in April and May to allow extensive engineering work to be carried out on the East Coast Main Line, delivering long-term benefits to passengers. The station will first be closed over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 15 April to midday Monday 17 April) to allow the overhead lines between King’s Cross and Finsbury Park to be completely replaced. The work is a critical stage in an ongoing £20 million programme to improve the reliability of the overhead lines between King’s Cross and Hitchin. Network Rail’s Route Director Dyan Crowther said: “The overhead lines leading out of King’s Cross are reaching the end of their working life and their age is starting to affect the performance of the line. This work will vastly improve the running of the line and will help us and the train operating companies deliver a more reliable service to passengers.” The final two closures of the station will take place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 29 April – Monday 1 May) and the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (Sunday 28 May – Monday 29 May). Engineering teams will take full advantage of the closures by renewing some 1500 metres of track on the line between King’s Cross and Finsbury Park which will further improve the performance of the line. Network Rail has worked closely with the train operating companies to provide alternative travel arrangements for passengers. While King’s Cross is closed, train services will start and terminate at Finsbury Park. London Underground services from Finsbury Park will operate as normal, providing connections into and out of central London. Rail tickets will be valid on London Underground services between Finsbury Park and King's Cross. Other changes to services are as follows:

• GNER will operate a half-hourly service across the weekend, starting and terminating at Finsbury Park. (GNER staff will be available at Finsbury Park to assist passengers)
• Hull Trains will operate a regular timetable across the weekend with trains starting and terminating at Finsbury Park
• First Capital Connect services through King’s Cross will remain unaffected

  Dyan Crowther added: “Large scale engineering work is essential to the future of the railway. We do these works over Bank Holiday weekend periods when fewer people are travelling, helping us to minimise disruption to passengers.” Passengers are advised to check their travel arrangements with National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or individual operators before making their journey.