Network Rail and train operators are reminding passengers of significant disruption to journeys this August Bank Holiday weekend with travellers urged not to travel to/from London on August 24/25 .
There will be major changes to services as vital work takes place at the southern end of the historic route as part of the East Coast Upgrade.
The lines between Peterborough and King’s Cross and Cambridge and London St Pancras International will be closed for the first time in two decades, meaning no trains are able to run on this portion of the railway. This includes the Moorgate line via Hertford North.
Passengers are urged not to travel on 24/25 August as there will be significant disruption whilst work takes place at Stevenage, Newark and King’s Cross station. Instead, passengers are advised to travel on either Friday, 23 or Tuesday, 27 August. Work at Newark will continue on Monday, 26 August, when a heavily reduced service will be in place, meaning services will be incredibly busy.
If passengers must travel on 24/25, they are advised to plan ahead and allow additional time for their journey as travel times will be extended and they will need to change trains or use bus replacement services, both of which will be incredibly busy. The work has been carefully coordinated to limit disruption to passengers, which is why multiple pieces of work are taking place at the same time.
The East Coast Upgrade is a vital £1.2billion investment into the railway, which will bring significant benefits for passengers once completed. This includes faster and more reliable journeys, more seats and more frequent services, transforming travel along the route.
Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “We are reminding passengers that there will be significant disruption to journeys on the East Coast Main Line this Bank Holiday weekend, with customers urged not to travel on 24/25 August.
“If this is not possible, we are urging passengers to be prepared and to allow additional time for their journey. We understand that this work is disruptive and we are sorry for that, however this is vital work which will improve the railway and provide benefits for passengers in the long run. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who are impacted for their patience.”
A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the East Coast Main Line, said: “There will be major disruption to services on the East Coast Main Line over the Bank Holiday as Network Rail works on a £1.2billion investment into the line.
“Passengers are urged not to travel on 24/25 August whilst the work takes place. Other routes into London will be open, but will be significantly busier than usual, so passengers are urged not to travel if possible.”
There will also be industrial action affecting CrossCountry services on Sunday, 26 August. Anyone who is travelling with CrossCountry is strongly advised to travel on another date. Details of what services are running together with information on other days people can travel are available on CrossCountry’s website.
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