Rail passengers in Peterborough warned about upcoming disruption to services
Train passengers are being warned about upcoming disruption to services – which will see a large section of railway near Peterborough close.
Passengers are advised to plan ahead as further progress with digital signalling will affect journeys over the weekend of 22 and 23 November.
Testing of new equipment will be taking place in Hertfordshire between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin, under the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).
This will see a large section of the railway south of Peterborough towards London being closed for the works to take place.
The scheme will introduce in-cab digital signalling on the line – meaning greener, safer and more reliable journeys for passengers.
The testing work in November will involve trains transitioning in and out of the digitally-controlled section, while further work will develop the trackside equipment related to digital signalling.
The engineering work means changes to passenger services over the weekend – including no Grand Central services.
LNER will have rail replacement coaches between Peterborough and Bedford, where customers can join train services to London St Pancras.
There will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains between Potters Bar and Peterborough/Royston, or between Hertford North and Stevenage.
Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, ECDP, said: “The work taking place, including further testing, is a further part of our preparations for the introduction of digital in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line.
“Its gradual introduction in the coming years will make the railway fit for the future and provide more reliable and greener services for passengers.
“There is a never a good time to close the railway but late November is a relatively quiet period, and gets the work done before the imminent pre-Christmas weeks. We encourage passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel, and thank them for their patience and understanding of this work.”
A spokesperson for the train operating companies added: “We will be working hard to keep passengers on the move while this essential engineering work takes place. Rail replacement bus services and revised timetables will be in place to help people reach their destinations, and we’re encouraging everyone to check before they travel.”