King’s Lynn passengers reminded that Great Northern and Thameslink train services will be affected during February half-term
Engineering work to install state-of-the-art digital signalling will close sections of a train line over next week’s half term.
Some of the disruption is expected to affect journeys to and from Lynn.
The East Coast Main Line between London and Peterborough will be closed for two weekends and two working days this month.
Operators Network Rail, Great Northern, and Thameslink are reminding passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel as work continues on the billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).
On Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11, buses will replace Thameslink trains between Huntingdon and Peterborough.
The work will mainly focus on upgrading switches and crossings, the specialist equipment used by trains to change tracks from one to another.
On Sunday, February 18 only, there will be no trains between King’s Cross and Stevenage, Royston and Peterborough.
An amended train service will run between:
- Royston and Cambridge / Lynn
- King’s Cross and Potters Bar (Saturday 17, Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 only)
- Moorgate and Potters Bar (Saturday 17, Monday 19, and Tuesday 20. On Sunday 18 this will run to/from Moorgate and Alexandra Palace)
- Moorgate and Hertford North via Alexandra Palace
From Saturday, February 17 until Tuesday, February 20, passengers are reminded that no Thameslink or Great Northern trains will operate between:
- Potters Bar and Peterborough
- Potters Bar and Royston
- Hertford North and Stevenage
Also, on Saturday, February 17, Thameslink services from Brighton and Horsham will run to/from London St Pancras.
On Tuesday 19 and 20, they will run to/from Finsbury Park and Brighton / Horsham.
An extremely limited rail replacement bus service will run between:
- Peterborough and Bedford via Huntingdon and St Neots
- Peterborough and Hitchin
- Royston and Hitchin
- Stevenage and Luton Airport Parkway via Hitchin
- St Albans and Stevenage via Welwyn Garden City
- Potters Bar and Hitchin
- Hertford North and Stevenage
As well as the above, on Sunday 18 only the following rail replacement services will run between:
- Alexandra Palace and Welwyn Garden City via Cockfosters
- Potters Bar and Cockfosters via Hadley Wood
During these four days, Network Rail will be commissioning the first section of the new digital signalling system between Welwyn and Hitchin, paving the way for train testing in the next phase of the East Coast Digital Programme.
The testing will ensure the system operates properly ahead of entry into service in the future.
Members of the ECDP team and representatives from train operators were at King’s Cross on Monday, talking to the public about the programme, what benefits it will bring, and handing out cards explaining how their journeys may be impacted over the coming weeks.
Ricky Barsby, head of access and integration for East Coast Digital Programme, said: “By commissioning the Welwyn and Hitchin section, it will enable us to test the new system with trains.
“This is a significant milestone of the East Coast Digital Programme.
“The additional work on Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11 will also allow us to make vital improvements to the railway including upgrades to switches & crossings which will mean smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers.
“We want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding ahead of this essential work and are reminding passengers to check their journey before they travel via National Rail Enquiries or through their train operator.”
Jenny Saunders, customer services director at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We’d like to apologise to our Great Northern and Thameslink customers for the disruption these vital upgrade works will cause, and thank you for your patience.
“We’re reminding customers to plan ahead and check your journey to see how it is affected.
“The extremely limited rail replacement bus service is likely to be very busy over the four-day period and we are encouraging customers to travel later in the week if they can.
“In particular, we’d urge people to work from home on Monday and Tuesday, February 19 and 20 if possible, to keep replacement bus services free for key workers.”