Thursday 17 Aug 2023
Passengers using Midland Main Line this weekend reminded of changes to services
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
- | Eastern: East Midlands
Network Rail and East Midlands Railway are reminding passengers taking journeys on the Midland Main Line this weekend to check before travelling as there are changes to services.
On Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 August, teams from Network Rail will be carrying out key work as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade.
The Midland Main Line Upgrade is the biggest programme of improvements to the line since its completion in 1870, and will see the electrification of the line from Kettering to Wigston.
This weekend, work is taking place between Kettering and Wigston, and will see the track lowered, and overhead line equipment installed. The track under two bridges needs to be lowered in order to provide a safe distance between the bridges and electric wires, which will be used to power trains on the route. Work will also take place to improve drainage in the area.
To allow the work to take place safely, no trains will be able to run between Kettering and Leicester. To keep passengers moving, bus replacement services will operate between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester.
East Midlands Railway will also be running a reduced timetable on these dates, and diversion routes will be in place. This means some journeys will take longer than usual, so passengers are urged to check before travelling via National Rail Enquiries or at eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk
Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “The work we’re doing this weekend as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade is vital, and will bring us one step closer to providing smoother, greener and better journeys for all passengers using the route.
“If you are using the route this weekend, please check before travelling as there are changes to services, including bus replacements and diversion routes. We’d like to thank everyone who is impacted by this work for their patience.”
Dave Meredith, Customer Services Director for East Midlands Railway, said: "We are asking any customers planning to travel to or from London this weekend to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to complete their journey.
“Our trains will be unable to call at Market Harborough station and rail replacement buses will keep passengers moving between Kettering and Market Harborough and Market Harborough and Leicester.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst the engineering work along the Midland Main Line is taking place.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Detailed train information
A reduced timetable will run to / from London St Pancras International with trains departing from their origins earlier than usual and arriving at their destinations later than usual. No trains are able to call at Market Harborough and will be diverted via Corby.
Trains between London St Pancras International and Kettering / Corby will terminate at / start back from Wellingborough. Customers at Corby can use the alternative services that are being diverted via Corby.
Rail replacement buses will run between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester.
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
Programme Manager, Communications
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.
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