Network Rail and East Coast Main Line train operators are reminding passengers that no trains will operate between Biggleswade or Letchworth Garden City and King’s Cross, St Pancras International or Moorgate stations this weekend.

The closure is to allow work on the East Coast Upgrade to continue. The line between Peterborough and London King’s Cross will also be closed.

The £1.2billion project will allow for faster and more frequent train services and provide 10,000 extra seats on long-distance trains a day.

Over the weekend, engineers will test new signalling equipment at Stevenage station. The testing can only be done safely when no trains are running, so the line between Peterborough and London King’s Cross and between Biggleswade and London King’s Cross will be closed.

There will also be no Great Northern or Thameslink services between Letchworth Garden City and London King’s Cross or London St Pancras International, and no train services in or out of Moorgate, including via Hertford North. Trains will still be able to run between King’s Lynn, Cambridge and Letchworth Garden City via Cambridge.

Passengers are urged not to travel to or from London King’s Cross or St Pancras International on either Saturday, 29 February or Sunday, 1 March. Passengers are advised to travel on either Friday, 28 February or Monday, 2 March.

What did the officials say?

Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said:

“We know that there have been numerous changes to services to and from London this year and we apologise for any inconvenience which this has caused.

“We understand that there’s never a good time carry out upgrade work on this scale. The work taking place on Saturday and Sunday is absolutely vital to move the scheme forward and we would urge passengers not to travel to and from London on the affected routes this weekend.

“This work will now not impact on services until June and I would like to thank passengers for their continued patience whilst we work on the upgrade, which will bring huge benefits to passengers when completed.”

A spokesperson for train operators along the route said:

“This weekend, significant work by Network Rail will mean widespread changes to services on the East Coast Main Line into London King’s Cross, as well as between Letchworth Garden City and St Pancras, including the Moorgate Line via Hertford North.

“We urge passengers to follow the travel advice issued and not to travel to or from London on these routes this weekend. Passengers should travel on alternative dates.

“We would like to thank all passengers for their patience and we look forward to them reaping the rewards when this project completes.”

Where Next?

RailAdvent Plus
   Get image downloads, Prints and Streaming Video
News Homepage
   For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
   Framed Prints, DVD’s / Blu-Ray’s and more
LocoStop Community
   Come and share your railway pictures
Mainline Steam Info
   Upcoming mainline steam tours/loco movements
Network Rail
   Visit their website