Network Rail is to trial mid-week engineering work between Grantham and Doncaster later this month.

Normally, Network Rail uses weekends and bank holidays to complete work as historically this is when people usually travel by rail less.

However, since the pandemic, Network Rail says that travel trends have changed, with more demand for weekend trips using London King’s Cross.

The work will take place on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th May and will see track improvement work take place as well as improvement work to the overhead wire equipment.

To allow the work to be carried out safely, the following changes to services will be in place on both 16/17 May:

• LNER will be running a reduced service during this time, with extended journey times, and coach replacement services operating between Peterborough and Doncaster and intermediate stations (Retford, Newark Northgate and Grantham).
• Hull Trains will be running a reduced service with extended journey times. Services are unable to call at Retford and Grantham due to the diversionary route between Doncaster and London King’s Cross. Train services are being run with extra capacity to compensate for the reduced service.
• Lumo services will be running a reduced service between Edinburgh & Newcastle only. However, for customers wishing to travel to/from London, some services will run to/from Doncaster and connect with Hull Trains services, with through-tickets available to customers.
• Grand Central will run a reduced service. Services which do run will go via diversionary routes, extending journey times.

Paul Rutter, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “We’re really pleased to be carrying out this trial.

“We know that passenger travel patterns have changed post-pandemic, with higher demand for travel on weekends to and from London King’s Cross railway station, so carrying out the work mid-week will mean fewer travellers are impacted by our upgrades.

“However, there will still be changes to services on Tuesday, 16 and Wednesday, 17 May, so our advice is to plan ahead and check before travelling via National Rail Enquiries.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the East Coast Main Line, said: “We are always looking at new ways we can improve the experience for our passengers and this trial is an example of just one way the industry has worked together to do something to respond to new trends and keep people moving.

“Services will still be running on the affected dates, but diversion routes and longer journey times will be in place, so please make sure you plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey.”