Network Rail will be carrying out work to upgrade signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will see disruption to rail travel over the weekend of Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June.

The disruption will affect travel in and out of London Kings Cross station and elsewhere on the Great Northern network

The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) is a major project to provide continuous, speed-based signalling through a screen in the driver’s cab. Applying this new technology will improve reliability, making services more punctual, and will lower carbon emissions.

Network Rail has nearly finished installing the digital signalling for Great Northern passenger services between Finsbury Park and Moorgate in London.

The work on 24 and 25 June, will prepare a further section of the East Coast Main Line for digital signalling. Network Rail will install new machinery and technology between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin in Hertfordshire, ready for trains to start using the new system in this area in 2025.

Service alterations

• On both Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June, buses will replace trains between St Neots (south of Peterborough), Royston and Potters Bar/Hertford North.
• On Sunday 25 June only, trains will not run between Kings Cross / Moorgate and Potters Bar / Hertford North until approximately 11:00 and after around 22:00.
• Thameslink will operate a limited shuttle service between Peterborough and St Neots. Great Northern trains will run between Royston and Kings Lynn, between Hertford North and Moorgate, and between Potters Bar and King’s Cross. Thameslink will also operate services between Finsbury Park and Brighton/Horsham​.

Buses will replace trains from selected Great Northern stations, but there will be queuing systems in place and journeys will take significantly longer than usual.

Network Rail is urging passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel, using Great Northern’s website.

Further information about the East Coast Digital Programme is available here.

Ed Akers, Network Rail’s Principal Programme Sponsor, ECDP said: “We’ve made good early progress on the Northern City Line, and we’re now preparing the way towards Britain’s first digital signalling on an intercity mainline. Over the coming years this will enable more reliable journeys for the millions of passengers who use the East Coast route.

“We are sorry for the disruption that this work will cause passengers, and thank them for their patience. We advise them to plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Jenny Saunders, Thameslink and Great Northern Customer Services Director, said: “This work is essential to giving passengers better, even more sustainable services in the future, However, regrettably, there will be significant disruption on this June weekend so please do check ahead and allow more time.”