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Monday 24 Apr 2006

KING’S CROSS STATION TO CLOSE FOR MAJOR RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Region & Route:

| Eastern

King’s Cross Station will close over two weekends in April and May to allow extensive engineering work to continue on the East Coast Main Line, delivering long-term benefits to passengers. Following work carried out over the Easter weekend, the station will next be closed over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 29 April – midday on Monday 1 May) to allow extensive track renewals to take place between King’s Cross and Finsbury Park. The work will see some 600 yards of track and more than 1500 tonnes of ballast replaced helping to improve the reliability and performance of the line between King’s Cross and Hitchin. Network Rail’s Route Director Dyan Crowther said: “Large scale engineering work is essential to the future of the railway. This massive programme of track renewals will vastly improve the running of the line and will help us and the train operating companies deliver a more reliable service to passengers. We do these works over Bank Holiday weekend periods when fewer people are travelling, helping us to minimise disruption to passengers.” The final closure of the station will take place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (Sunday 28 May – Monday 29 May). Engineering teams will take full advantage of the closure to renew a further 800 yards of track and 3,000 tonnes of ballast 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 until midday on Monday 1 May, 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 Thameslink services through King’s Cross Thameslink station will remain unaffected

  Passengers are advised to check their travel arrangements with National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or individual operators before making their journey.