Monday 23 Apr 2018
Passengers in East Midlands urged to plan ahead this weekend as major upgrade to railway takes place
- Region & Route:
- | Eastern
Passengers in the East Midlands are being urged to check before they travel as Network Rail carries out a project of improvements across the region.
On Saturday, 28 April and Sunday, 29 April Network Rail engineers will carry out work at various locations along the Midland Main Line, which will cause significant changes to train services in the area.
The upgrades include ongoing improvements to the track to increase the linespeed through Market Harborough, as well as preparation work for the installation of a fourth track between Bedford and Kettering to increase capacity – including the strengthening of several key structures between the two towns.
In addition, Ford End Road bridge in Bedford, Cottingham Road bridge in Corby and Bush bridge in Wellingborough reach major milestones over the weekend as they are demolished and reconstructed in readiness for the electrification of the line. Due to the nature of the work, there are changes to train services throughout the region.
All weekend, East Midlands Trains services will be replaced by buses between Luton and Leicester and Thameslink services will be replaced by buses between Luton and Bedford.
Rob McIntosh, Route Managing Director at Network Rail, said: “Over the weekend of 28/89 April, Network Rail engineers will be doing a huge amount of work to the railway in the East Midlands.
“The work will see track improvements and three bridge demolitions as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade, which will ensure we can continue to meet the needs of the communities and economies that our railway serves.
“Due to the nature of the work, there are significant changes to train services and passengers are advised to check before they travel via National Rail Enquiries and allow additional time for their journeys. We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this causes and thank rail travellers for their patience.”
Adam Piddington, Customer Experience Director for East Midlands Trains, added: "This investment will provide better journeys in the near future but there is some short term disruption while the work is carried out.
“We will have staff on hand to help customers but I would also ask everyone to check the temporary timetable before they travel and, if possible, leave a little extra time for their journey."
Stuart Cheshire, Passenger Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “Thameslink trains will be replaced by buses throughout this weekend and we urge passengers – especially those heading for the airport - to allow more time and to check before they travel at either www.thameslinkrailway.com or www.nationalrail.co.uk.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Detailed changes
East Midlands Trains
On Saturday and Sunday: 2 trains per hour will run between London St Pancras and Luton; 2 trains per hour will run between Leicester and the East Midlands / South Yorkshire with 1 serving Derby and the other serving Nottingham.
Buses will replace trains between Luton and Leicester.
Three additional services will run at the end of service on Sunday (early on Monday morning):
- 00:09 Leicester to Derby.
- 00:04 Leicester to Nottingham.
- 00:42 Leicester to Derby.
Thameslink
On Saturday, 2 trains per hour will run between Brighton and Luton; 2 trains per hour will run between Three Bridges and Luton; 2 trains per hour will run between Sutton and Luton via Wimbledon. Customers for stations via Mitcham Junction should use Southern services
Buses replace trains between Luton and Bedford.
On Sunday, 2 trains per hour will run between Brighton and Luton; 2 trains per hour will run between Sutton and Luton via Wimbledon. Customers for stations via Mitcham Junction should use Southern services. Buses replace trains between Luton and Bedford.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - Amy Brenndorfer
Senior Communications Manager
07858375508
07730359569
Amy.Brenndorfer@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
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