Whilst their families were enjoying their Christmas break, Network Rail engineers were carrying out vital engineering work on the East Coast Main Line between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin as part of the billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).

From Christmas Eve to the early hours of Wednesday, 27 December, Teams of engineers worked around the clock laying new track, upgrading existing overhead line equipment, and testing newly installed equipment that forms part of the upgrade to digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line.

The East Coast Digital Programme is a landmark project and the first on a UK mainline railway where traditional lineside signals are being replaced by digital signalling that drivers can on a screen inside their cab.

The result will provide passengers with a more reliable and resilient rail network that will ultimately be better for the environment.

Further work in connection with the is planned for the weekends of 6 and 7 and 13 and 14 January, which will result in alterations to train services. Passengers intending to travel on those should check their journey before travelling with National Rail Enquiries or their train operator.

Sarah Hewlett, Network Rail’s Programme Manager for East Coast Digital Project, said: “Our engineers worked incredibly hard over the festive period to deliver these vital upgrades which will change the way that trains will run in the future.

“Digital signalling will make our rail network more reliable and more resilient for our passengers, as well as decarbonising it.
We want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while the work was carried out.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators said: “Our colleagues worked tirelessly to keep customers on the move on Christmas Eve, ahead of the usual Christmas shutdown of services.

“A huge thank you to all our customers for their patience while their journeys looked a little different.”