East Midlands Trains has announced that the next stage of the multi-million-pound upgrade to the Midland Main Line will start soon.

The Midland Mainline runs from St Pancras to Sheffield and the Market Harborough Line Speed Improvement Programme is a key part of the upgrade to the line.

The work taking place at the station will see the track and ballast replaced as well as work to the signalling.

Once completed, in December 2019, it will allow trains to travel through at much higher speeds resulting in reduced journey time.

Due to the work taking place, there will be no trains calling at Market Harborough on the following dates:

• Sunday, 4 March
• Sunday, 11 March
• Sunday, 18 March
• Sunday, 25 March

Instead, bus replacement services will be in operation.

The track improvement is the latest stage of the project carried out by Network Rail in partnership with East Midlands Trains.

What did the officials say?

Rob McIntosh, Route Managing Director at Network Rail, said: “We’re delighted to have moved onto the next phase of this major upgrade, which will see the track straightened. This work will mean trains can travel at faster speeds along this section, resulting in a reduced journey time for passengers and we hope the improvements will help to drive economic growth in the East Midlands.

“To allow the work to be carried out safely, no trains will be able to run on the line and bus replacement services are in operation. We know this can impact on passengers and we’ve worked closely with East Midlands Trains to keep disruption to a minimum. We thank passengers for their patience whilst this upgrade takes place.”

Jake Kelly, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, said: “Along with Network Rail, we are working hard to deliver these unprecedented improvements on our route to London. The work taking place at Market Harborough is a crucial part of the long-term plan for change on the Midland Main Line Upgrade which will provide better journeys for the growing number of people using the railway. People who have been travelling through the station will have already seen work taking place on the new car park which is expected to open in early Spring and this next phase of work will see the start of major work on the infrastructure.

“Inevitably, there is some short-term pain whilst this improvement work is carried out, and along with Network Rail, we have tried to limit the disruption as much as we can. However, it does mean that trains will be replaced by buses from Market Harborough on Sundays during March and we’d advise customers to check their journeys before travelling.”

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