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Thursday 23 Mar 2023

REMINDER: Check before travelling for planned rail journeys via Cambridge this Easter

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Passengers travelling to/from Peterborough, Kings Lynn, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds via Cambridge are advised to check before they travel as Network Rail will carry out essential engineering work this Easter.

Engineering work will continue on the renewal of the signalling systems north of Cambridge, together with vital maintenance work to maintain reliability of the infrastructure.

To allow passengers to complete their journey, a rail replacement bus service will replace trains on the following days between:

• Ely/Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge from Good Friday (7 April) to Easter Monday (10 April) inclusive.
• Norwich and Cambridge North and between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough on Sunday 9 April.
• Thetford and Cambridge North and between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough on Monday 10 April.

Much of the rail network will remain free of engineering work and open for travel, but with some early and late services being curtailed to allow extended overnight maintenance to take place.

Passengers travelling with Greater Anglia, Great Northern and Thameslink, Cross Country and East Midlands rail services are advised to check their plans with their train operators or on nationalrail.co.uk and leave extra time to complete their journey.

Katie Frost Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This year, most of the network will be available for passengers to enjoy days out by rail throughout the Easter holidays.

However, those planning to travel via Ely and Cambridge should check how their journey might be affected by the works. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this important work to renew the signalling systems and general track maintenance work to improve reliability on this busy mainline.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “People can visit many great destinations by rail this Easter break.

“Nevertheless, there will still be some maintenance and upgrade schemes taking place. These essential works will help improve rail travel in the region and we would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while the improvements are being undertaken. Rail replacement buses will operate so customers can complete their journeys. Customers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys.”

Greater Anglia would like to remind customers that full-sized bicycles and e-scooters can not be carried on rail replacement buses.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “We also thank passengers for their patience. Journeys will take longer than normal, with replacement buses connecting Cambridge and Ely while Network Rail carry out this vital work, so please plan in advance and check times before you set off.”

Look ahead to May Bank Holidays

Passengers are also advised to check their journey plans for May and the early and late May bank holiday if travelling to/from Cambridge via Audley End and Meldreth as engineering work for Cambridge re-signalling and preparation work for Cambridge South station is planned to take place.

On these May bank holiday weekends, engineering work will affect Greater Anglia, Great Northern and Thameslink, and Cross Country services.