Reminder: No trains between London and Peterborough or Royston

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Network Rail has announced major upgrades on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), impacting services on January 25–26 and February 1–2, 2025.

Passengers are advised to plan ahead, check journey planners, and allow extra travel time as London King’s Cross station will be closed on both weekends for crucial engineering work.

Planned Disruptions

Rail replacement buses will operate, but there will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running between London and Peterborough, Royston, and Stevenage via Hertford North on Saturdays.

On Sundays, limited services will extend slightly south to Letchworth Garden City.

Fans attending the Arsenal vs. Manchester City match at the Emirates Stadium on February 2 should note that rail replacement buses will not operate beyond Alexandra Palace to Finsbury Park between 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm due to safety concerns.

Alternative travel options include Midland Main Line Thameslink services to London St Pancras International and walking to Euston for Victoria Line connections.

For real-time updates and journey planning, passengers are encouraged to use the National Rail and Transport for London (TfL) websites.

Key Upgrades

The planned works are part of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) and other infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving reliability, sustainability, and efficiency on the ECML.

Key projects include:

• Track Renewal North of Stevenage: Enhancing performance and reducing maintenance requirements.
• Bridge Timber Investments South of Finsbury Park: Strengthening critical structures.
• Switch and Crossing Upgrades at Welwyn Garden City: Modernizing components that allow tracks to separate and rejoin.
• Tunnel Drainage Improvements at Hadley Wood: Enhancing water management for long-term durability.
• Overhead Line Equipment Enhancements: Modernizing systems at Biggleswade and Bounds Green.
• Under-Track Cabling for Digital Signalling: Installing advanced cables between Biggleswade and Peterborough for the £1.4 billion ECDP, supporting in-cab signalling for greener, more reliable journeys.

Statements from Officials

Simon Pumphrey, Network Rail Infrastructure Director, highlighted the importance of these upgrades:
“The work our teams will complete over these weekends goes beyond routine maintenance.

By combining projects, we maximize the track closures to minimize future disruptions. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience.”

Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway’s Customer Service Director, emphasized efforts to mitigate disruption:
“We’ve arranged replacement buses, shuttle trains, and ticket acceptance on alternative routes. Please check online planners and allow extra time for your journey.”

Travel Advice

Passengers traveling north of London are urged to confirm service changes and explore alternative routes, including replacement buses and shuttle trains.

For the latest updates, visit the Network Rail and TfL websites.