On Sunday, 9th October, due to testing of digital signalling on the route, the Northern City Line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate and all intermediate stations will be closed, and trains to and from Moorgate diverted into London King’s Cross.

When trains are diverted to King’s Cross, passengers can use their tickets on London Bus route 271 and on London Underground between London Kings Cross / London St Pancras International and Moorgate.

The testing forms part of the Government funded East Coast Digital Programme. This will see traditional signals removed from the tracks and replaced by state-of-the-art digital signalling technology, which will reduce delays and provide passengers with a more reliable service.

Instead of relying on fixed lineside signals, the new technology involves a new operating system that is linked to a computer screen in drivers’ cabs and continuously communicates with each train. Great Northern‘s train fleet is already fitted with the technology, but to ensure that it works with the necessary digital infrastructure, testing has been carried out throughout this year. Driver training should begin early next year, following which the first passenger services on the Northern City Line will be digitally signalled.

In June this year, the Government announced that a further £1billion of funding would be provided so that the East Coast Digital Programme could be fully implemented. Details of how that funding will be used is available here.

Whilst services are disrupted. passengers should allow plenty of time for their journey and check before travelling via National Rail Enquires or greatnorthernrail.com

Toufic Machnouk, Network Rail’s Director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, said: “This work marks another vital step in the move to digital signalling, with the testing now involving multiple trains at once. We’re making exciting progress towards enabling more reliable journeys through technology.

“I’m sorry for any impact on passengers’ journeys and would ask everybody to check before you travel. Most of our testing is done outside of normal hours but occasionally we need a more extended period to ensure our process is thorough.”

Great Northern and Thameslink Customer Services Director Jenny Saunders said:

“I’d like to thank people for their patience and understanding. This vital work will modernise our railway and mean that train travel is more reliable.

“We’re doing our best to keep disruption to a minimum but if you’re travelling to our stations between Finsbury Park and Moorgate on Sunday, then please plan ahead using National Rail Enquiries’ online journey planner.”