Tuesday 2 Jun 2026
Upgrades between Leicester and Kettering to impact journeys over two weekends
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
- | Eastern: East Midlands
Railway improvement work taking place between Leicester and Kettering will affect journeys over the next two weekends (6-7 and 13-14 June).
Network Rail is carrying out renewal of drainage systems at Great Bowden and renewing a switch and crossing – the section of track allowing trains to switch between lines – at Leicester South Junction.
It means buses will replace CrossCountry services between Birmingham and Leicester over both weekends.*
East Midlands Railway (EMR) will have one train per hour between Nottingham/Sheffield and London St Pancras, with rail replacement buses in operation between Kettering and Leicester, calling at Market Harborough.**
The work at Great Bowden will see more than 200 metres of the drainage system renewed to prevent flooding, protect the railway and support safer, more reliable services. An under-track crossing – allowing utilities to pass safely beneath the line – will also be upgraded.
The renewal of the life-expired switch and crossing at Leicester South Junction will also help deliver smoother, more reliable journeys, as well as reducing future faults and maintenance.
Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director, said:
“This work between Leicester and Kettering is vital to keeping the railway safe and reliable for passengers and freight. By renewing drainage at Great Bowden and replacing track components at Leicester South Junction, we’re reducing the risk of flooding, improving reliability and cutting down on future maintenance.
“We’re sorry to anyone whose journey is affected, and we thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these important upgrades.”
A spokesperson for CrossCountry and EMR said:
“We’re working together to keep customers moving while Network Rail carries out these important upgrades. During the work, some services will be amended and rail replacement buses will be in operation, so we strongly encourage customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
Visit National Rail or your train operator’s website for full details of travel arrangements.
Notes to Editors
*CrossCountry additional information:
Trains that run between Birmingham New Street and Cambridge/Stansted Airport will run between Leicester and Cambridge/Stansted Airport only.
Trains that usually run between Cardiff Central and Nottingham will run between Cardiff Central and Birmingham New Street, and between Coleshill Parkway and Nottingham.
Trains to/from North East England and Scotland will be diverted, extending journey times by up to 60 minutes. These trains will not call at Tamworth.
**EMR additional information:
Services will operate as follows:
- One train per hour between Nottingham and London St Pancras International.
- One train per hour between Sheffield and London St Pancras International.
- Trains will not call at Market Harborough.
- Trains will additionally call at Corby.
- Sheffield services will additionally call at Wellingborough.
- One train per hour will run between London St Pancras International and Wellingborough.
A connecting rail replacement bus service will operate between Kettering and Leicester, calling at Market Harborough. There will also be a number of other alterations to services, with some trains running at different times or having different stopping patterns.
On Saturday 6 June:
The 21.32 London St Pancras to Sheffield will terminate at Derby at 23.55. It will not call at Chesterfield or Sheffield. A connecting rail replacement bus will run between Derby and Sheffield, calling at Chesterfield.
The 22.32 London St Pancras to Derby will not call at Beeston or Nottingham. A connecting rail replacement bus will run between East Midlands Parkway and Nottingham, calling at Beeston.
On Sunday 7 June:
The 08.21 Nottingham to London St Pancras International train will start from East Midlands Parkway at 08.19, and will not call at Nottingham or Beeston. A connecting rail replacement bus will run between Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway calling at Beeston.
On Saturday 13 June:
The 21.32 London St Pancras to Sheffield service will terminate at Chesterfield. A connecting rail replacement bus will run between Chesterfield and Sheffield.
The 22.32 London St Pancras to Derby service will no longer call at Beeston, Nottingham or Long Eaton. A connecting rail replacement bus will run between East Midlands Parkway and Derby, calling at Beeston, Nottingham and Long Eaton.
On Sunday 14 June:
The 07.57 Derby to London St Pancras service will start from Derby earlier at 06.28 and will not call at Long Eaton. A connecting rail replacement bus will run between Derby and East Midlands Parkway, calling at Long Eaton.
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
About Network Rail
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