Over the night from Saturday 30 November to Sunday 1 December, the £1.4 billion project to install the European Train Control System (ETCS) on the East Coast Mainline (ECML) will face its most demanding test yet.

In future hopes of a country wide roll out, the East Coast Digital Programme is seen as the flagship of ETCS in the UK, with such equipment already been tried and tested on the Moorgate line, and installation and testing of onboard equipment across various types of freight and passenger trains.

On the night of Saturday 30 November, teams will test the newly installed ETCS equipment at line speed on a section of the line between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin using a Grand Central class 180 and a Great Northern class 717, both of which already have on board ETCS systems fitted.

Due to this test taking place, the ECML will be shut to all trains between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin.

Those intending to travel out of Kings Cross on long-distance services will need to re-plan or make alternative arrangements.

Buses will replace trains between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin.

Over the Night of Saturday 30 November to Sunday 1st December, there will be no Grand Central services running.

Lumo will be running coaches from London Kings Cross to Peterborough where passengers can change on their onward trains.

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) services will be running north of St Neots or Peterborough, road coaches will transfer passengers to the Midland Mainline at Bedford, where passengers can join East Midlands Railway or Thameslink services for their final stage of their journey into London St Pancras.

This is likely to make journeys between Bedford and St Pancras busier than usual.

Hull trains will run to an amended timetable, with two trains an hour being diverted into London St Pancras.

While Great Northern and Thameslink services will still run from Kings Cross but only as far as Potter Bar.

If the upcoming test is successful, more tests will take place between Welwyn and Hitchin over the next few months, incorporating various trains already fitted with ETCS and onboard systems. The majority of this work is due to take place overnight to minimise disruption to regular passenger services.

The 21st-century digital signalling systems already in use across much of Europe will replace traditional lineside signals with in-cab signalling displays, leading to more dependable journeys and a more sustainable railway for future passengers.

The ongoing tests are part of the preparations for operating trains with digital signalling on this route, which is expected to commence in late 2025.

“The testing work is a further step towards the introduction of digital, in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will improve services for passengers and create a more reliable and greener railway.

We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend.  We thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.”

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, ECDP