Due to essential railway upgrades, train services on the East Coast Main Line will be disrupted at weekends this month.

So that engineers can safely carry out their work, there will be no trains between Doncaster and Grantham on Saturdays and Sundays 5th/6th, 12th/13th, and 19th/20th of October.

On these dates, trains still running may use diversionary routes, will be busier, and may require a rail-replacement coach service for parts of the journey.

Passengers should allow extra time to travel on these weekends, and check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or find detailed information on specific services from train operators’ websites at:

• LNER – Planned Timetable Changes
• Lumo – Planned engineering
• Hull Trains – Planned improvements and altered services
• Grand Central – Engineering calendar

The vital work to keep passengers and freight moving smoothly in future will see:

• Points will be replaced or refurbished in Newark, Doncaster and Grantham.
• Drainage will be upgraded in Peascliffe Tunnel near Grantham.
• Track will be upgraded near Grantham and Newark.
• Canopies will be refurbished at Retford station.
• Structures at Creeton Cutting between
• Peterborough and Grantham will be repaired.

Alterations to services between Doncaster and Peterborough

LNER:

• Services from London Kings Cross to Leeds and Edinburgh will run to a reduced timetable.
• Other services to / from Edinburgh will terminate and start at York or Newcastle.
• A rail shuttle service will operate between Grantham and London King’s Cross.
• Rail-replacement coach services will operate between Grantham and Doncaster, calling at Newark North Gate, Lincoln, and Retford.

Grand Central:

• All services will be diverted via Lincoln and operate to an amended timetable.

Hull Trains:

• A reduced and amended timetable will apply, with trains not calling at Beverley, Cottingham, Retford, or Grantham.

Lumo:

• Will only run between Edinburgh and Newcastle to an amended timetable and a reduced service.

At the end of October and beginning of November, there will be further work on the East Coast Main Line between York and Darlington, with rail-replacement coaches on 26th/27th October and 2nd/3rd November.

Services on the southern end of the East Coast Main Line have been disrupted regularly in recent months whilst a digital signalling system is installed and tested.

“I’d like to thank people in advance for their understanding ahead of our essential railway upgrades this October. When complete our work will bring mean better, smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight on the East Coast Main Line.
“However, upgrading complex equipment like switches and crossings means we have no choice but to close sections of railway and stop trains running so engineers can quickly and safely carry out our work. I’d urge anyone wanting to travel over the weekends concerned to check National Rail Enquiries and plan ahead, allow extra time to get to where you need to be, and be prepared for some of your journey to be by coach.”

Paul Rutter, Network Rail’s East Coast route director

“We’re working closely with Network Rail on plans to keep customers on the move during the vital railway upgrades over consecutive weekends this October. We’re advising people to check before they travel to see exactly how their journey could be impacted. Please allow extra time for your journey, with trains which are running expected to be busier than normal and rail replacement coaches in place to get customers to where they need to be.”

A spokesperson on behalf of all train operators