East Midland Railway (EMR) and CrossCountry train services in Derbyshire will be disrupted on Easter Saturday, 16th, and Easter Sunday, 17th April because of engineering work at Duffield.

EMR services between London and Sheffield will be diverted and will not call at Long Eaton or Derby. Rail-replacement buses will run between Derby and East Midlands Parkway, whilst Long Eaton passengers can use their EMR tickets on CrossCountry trains.

However, CrossCountry trains between Derby and Chesterfield will be diverted, which could extend journey times by 60 minutes. Passengers should plan ahead and check before they travel with either National Rail Enquiries or their train operator.

Network Rail is upgrading the track at Duffield station in a £718,000 scheme that will bring smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers. Engineers will completely renew around 486 metres of rail, sleepers, and ballast. The station is managed by EMR and served around 14,000 passengers in 2020-21. Completing this upgrade now will reduce the need for further maintenance work, resulting in less disruption for passengers.

Gary Walsh, East Midlands Route Director for Network Rail, said: “Continuously upgrading our track and equipment means that we can provide better, on-time journeys for passengers in Derbyshire and right along the Midland Main Line.

“We’re working with our train operating partners to keep passengers moving throughout the Easter bank holiday, but there will be some changes to services. I’d urge anybody who needs to travel by train to check their journey in advance to avoid any inconvenience.”

Richard Morris, Regional Director East Midlands & Anglia for CrossCountry, said: “We know that extended journey times are never popular with our customers, but carrying out this essential track upgrade work across the Bank Holiday weekend will mean that there is less need for further maintenance work later in the year.

“We ask that our customers travelling on our long-distance services between Scotland & the North East to Derby, Birmingham and the South West check our website crosscountrytrains.co.uk for details of amended timetables before they travel.”

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “These vital works will provide long-term benefits for customers, reducing the need for further maintenance work on line, while also lowering the risk of possible disruption in the future.

“Any customers who need to travel during the works should plan ahead and check their journey on our website before setting off.”

East Midlands Railway service alterations

Saturday, 16th April:

• EMR Intercity services between London and Sheffield will be diverted and will not call at Long Eaton or Derby.
• Passengers for Derby will need to change at East Midlands Parkway for a rail-replacement bus service.
• Passengers for Long Eaton will need to travel on London to Nottingham services and change at Beeston or Nottingham.

Sunday, 17th April:

• EMR Intercity services between London and Sheffield will be diverted and will not call at Long Eaton or Derby.
• Passengers for Long Eaton and Derby will need to change at East Midlands Parkway for a rail-replacement bus service.

CrossCountry Trains on Saturday, 16th and Sunday, 17th April

• Services between Derby and Chesterfield will be diverted, with journey times extended by 60 minutes.