Reminder: Extensive engineering upgrades affecting passenger journeys

Monday 20 Oct 2025

Reminder: Extensive engineering upgrades affecting passenger journeys

Region & Route:: Eastern; | Eastern: East Coast

Passengers are reminded that a far-reaching package of engineering work will affect journeys over the next three weekends.

Network Rail will have teams working at various sites – closing some lines and meaning changes to rail services.

On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, there will be no trains in both directions from Doncaster and Leeds to York, Northallerton and Darlington.
On Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November, there will be an extremely limited service to and from York.
On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November, there will be no trains in both directions from Doncaster and Leeds to York, with replacement buses in operation.
Buses will replace trains between Knaresborough and York from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November.

The work being carried out while lines are closed includes:

replacing sleepers and ballast at Tollerton
renewing track components at Skelton Junction and Holgate
new track at Holgate Junction, Dringhouses, Earfit Lane and Moor Lane
drainage renewal north of York
improving the resilience of overhead line equipment

Other work taking place includes a £125,000 investment in Nether Poppleton level crossing to make it smoother and safer. The road will be closed to vehicles on 25 and 26 October, with a signed diversion in place. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the crossing, with the work site fenced off and marshals on hand to supervise.

About 150 Network Rail colleagues will be working on a £1.1m investment at Heck sidings, between Selby and Doncaster, where the ground frame will be upgraded for safer and smoother journeys.

The nine-day line closure between Knaresborough and York will allow for repairs to Cattal signal box and the renewal of its lever frame, as well as new gates and hinges at Cattal level crossing.

In addition, the Transpennine Route Upgrade will be completing work just south of York to replace two sets of heavily used track points – crossed by more than 100 trains every day – to improve reliability for services arriving into York from Leeds.

Sam MacDougall, Network Rail operations director, said: "We’re investing in vital upgrades across the area to deliver a more reliable and resilient railway for passengers. While we understand that changes to services can be disruptive, this work is vital to keep the network running safely and smoothly for years to come.

“We’re working closely with train operators to keep people moving and thank everyone for their patience while we carry out these improvements.”

A spokesperson for the train operating companies said: “We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep passengers on the move while this essential engineering work takes place. Replacement services and revised timetables will be in place to help people reach their destinations, and we’re encouraging everyone to check before they travel.”

Passengers are urged to check details of their journeys before travelling via National Rail or with their train operators.

Notes to Editors

On 25 and 26 October:

CrossCountry will have buses replacing trains between Leeds and Darlington.

No Grand Central trains will run between London King’s Cross and Sunderland.

No LNER services will operate between Doncaster and Northallerton. Trains from London King’s Cross which would usually call at York, Newcastle or Scotland will terminate at Doncaster, and trains from Newcastle and Scotland will terminate at either Darlington or Northallerton. Rail replacement coaches will operate between Doncaster and Northallerton/Darlington. For York only, coaches will run between York and Wakefield to connect with LNER trains to the south, and between York and Northallerton to connect with LNER trains to the north.

Lumo will have no services between London King’s Cross and Newcastle, and a reduced service between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

No Northern trains will run between Sheffield and York; and between Leeds and York via Garforth (Sunday only). Services running between Blackpool North and York will terminate at Leeds. Trains between Hull and York will be diverted to run between Leeds and Hull. On Saturday, trains between Leeds and York via Garforth will start/terminate at Micklefield. Buses will replace trains between Leeds and York, Moorthorpe and York; Selby and York; and Micklefield and York.

TransPennine Express will have no service running between Leeds and York via Cross Gates.

Trains between Liverpool Lime Street and Hull will call additionally at Newton-le-Willows
Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Scarborough will instead run between Manchester Piccadilly and Huddersfield, and between York and Scarborough
Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and York will instead run between Manchester Piccadilly and Wakefield Kirkgate via Huddersfield
Trains between Manchester Victoria and York will instead run between Manchester Victoria and Leeds via Huddersfield / Dewsbury
Trains between Manchester Airport and Redcar Central will instead run between Manchester Airport and Leeds via Huddersfield / Dewsbury

Replacement bus services will operate between Leeds and York; Wakefield Kirkgate and York; York and Northallerton; and York and Redcar Central.

On 1 and 2 November:

CrossCountry will have buses replacing trains between Leeds and Darlington.

No Grand Central services will operate between London King’s Cross and Sunderland.

No LNER services will operate between Doncaster and Northallerton. Trains from London King’s Cross which would usually call at York, Newcastle or Scotland will terminate at Doncaster, and trains from Newcastle and Scotland will terminate at either Darlington or Northallerton. Rail replacement coaches will operate between Doncaster and Northallerton/Darlington. For York only, coaches will operate between York and Wakefield to connect with LNER trains to the south, and between York and Northallerton to connect with LNER trains to the north.

Lumo will operate a reduced timetable between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

TransPennine Express will have an amended service as follows:

Liverpool Lime Street to Hull services will additionally call at Newton-le-Willows

Manchester Victoria to Leeds services will only call at Huddersfield and Dewsbury
Manchester Airport to Leeds via Huddersfield and Dewsbury
Manchester Piccadilly to Wakefield Kirkgate via Huddersfield
Northallerton to Newcastle
York to Scarborough (Saturday only)
Malton to Scarborough (Sunday only)

Rail replacement buses will operate between Leeds and York; Leeds and Darlington; York and Northallerton; York and Malton; and York and Redcar Central.

On 8 and 9 November:

CrossCountry will have buses running between Leeds and York.

Grand Central will have no trains between London King’s Cross and Sunderland.

No LNER services will operate between Doncaster and York. Trains from London King’s Cross which would usually call at York, Newcastle or Scotland will terminate at Doncaster, and trains from Newcastle and Scotland will terminate at York. Rail replacement coaches will operate between York and Wakefield Westgate, connecting with LNER trains to the north and south. LNER services between London King’s Cross and Hull will be diverted and will not call at Selby. Coaches will replace trains between Doncaster and Selby.

Buses will replace trains between Doncaster and Selby, and between Wakefield Westgate and York.

Lumo will have a reduced service between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

TransPennine Express will have an amended service as follows:

Liverpool Lime Street to Hull services will additionally call at Newton-le-Willows
Manchester Airport to Leeds
Manchester Victoria to Leeds
Manchester Piccadilly to Wakefield Kirkgate
Manchester Piccadilly to Huddersfield
York to Newcastle
York to Redcar Central/Saltburn (Note: on Sunday, buses also replace trains between Northallerton and Middlesbrough) You should use Northern services between Middlesbrough and Redcar Central/Saltburn.
York to Scarborough
York to Darlington (Sunday only)

Rail replacement bus services will run between Leeds and York; Wakefield Kirkgate and York; and Northallerton and Middlesbrough (Sunday only).

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Gareth Dennison
Media relations manager, Eastern region
Network Rail
07561 874858
gareth.dennison@networkrail.co.uk

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