East Midlands Railway train services on the Midland Main Line will be disrupted next weekend because of engineering works between Leicester and Kettering.

The line will be closed on Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 October, with a rail-replacement bus service being provided between Kettering, Market Harborough, and Leicester.

The railway closure is necessary because Network Rail is in the process of lowering sections of track and demolishing some bridges.

That work will provide extra clearance, so that overhead electric lines can be installed as part of the ongoing Midland Main Line Upgrade project.

When complete. the Midland Main Line Upgrade project will see the line between London St Pancras and the East Midlands completely electrified, which will allow the use of bi-mode trains that will provide customers with greener, faster, and smoother journeys.

Passengers intending to travel by East Midlands Railway (EMR) services between London and the East Midlands should check their journey beforehand here.

EMR Intercity train. // Credit: East Midlands Railway

The disruption will also affect East Midlands Railway Connect services, which will start and terminate at Wellingborough, instead of at Kettering or Corby, with a rail-replacement bus service running on both days between Kettering, Market Harborough, and Leicester.

Further disruption may also be caused to some East Midlands Railway services because of the unprecedented weather accompanying Storm Babet.

Dave Meredith, Customer Services Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We are asking any customers planning to travel to or from London this weekend (Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October) to allow plenty of time to complete their journey.

“As well as possible effects from Storm Babet to services in the East of our network in Lincolnshire, an amended timetable will be in place on our Intercity route. This will mean trains will not call at Market Harborough and some trains will additionally call at Corby and Kettering.

“Our Connect trains will only run between Wellingborough and London instead of Kettering and Corby.
Rail replacement buses will run between Kettering, Market Harborough, and Leicester.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst the engineering work along the Midland Main Line is taking place.”