Media centre

Monday 14 Aug 2023

Thameslink and Great Northern passengers reminded to check before they travel over August Bank Holiday weekend

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Great Northern and Thameslink passengers are being reminded to plan ahead and check before they travel if they intend on using the East Coast Main Line to and from London over the August Bank Holiday weekend as key engineering work for the billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) takes place.

Delivering the ECDP will result in a more reliable railway with lower emissions thanks to the introduction of digital signalling. Signalling information will be fed directly to a screen in the driver’s cab, replacing traditional lineside signals.

Passengers are being reminded that, on Sunday 27 August, buses will replace trains between Potters Bar and Peterborough, as well as between Hertford North and Royston. Buses will also replace trains between Peterborough and Biggleswade on Saturday 26 August from 20:00 until end of service and on Monday 28 August until 08:00.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, digital upgrades will take place on a stretch of line between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin in Hertfordshire, in preparation for digital signalling to be used from 2025.

Additionally, Peterborough’s power signal box will be closing on the evening of Saturday 26 August, moving local signalling control to York’s modern rail operating centre over the weekend, allowing for trains to move more efficiently across junctions and to reduce delays.

Work has been carefully scheduled to keep disruption to passengers’ journeys to a minimum, with Friday and most of Saturday and Monday remaining unaffected. However, services may also be affected by a planned RMT strike on 26 August. More details will be released closer to the time.

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s Head of Access and Planning for ECDP, said: “We’re encouraging passengers to check before they travel over the August Bank Holiday weekend so that their journeys run as smoothly as possible. The work we are delivering for the East Coast Digital Programme is imperative in allowing for improved, more reliable journeys for our passengers in the future.

“We want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding in advance of the work and have carefully planned it so that it causes the least amount of disruption as possible.”

Jenny Saunders, Thameslink and Great Northern Customer Services Director, said: “The work Network Rail is carrying out over the August Bank Holiday weekend is essential to delivering more reliable journeys for our Great Northern and Thameslink customers. Whilst the work has been planned to minimise disruption, regrettably, there will be some disruption to our customers’ journeys – particularly on Sunday 27 August - so please check ahead of travelling.”

ENDS