Passengers travelling between London and the East Midlands can expect improved journeys as key upgrade work takes place in Bedfordshire this weekend

The improvements work will see the renewal of 740m of track between Luton and Bedford as part of engineer’s ongoing efforts to upgrade the railway. The work will provide more reliable travel and is hoped to encourage more people to make their journeys by trains be it for business, education or leisure.

The work will see disruption on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of May with buses replacing trains between Harpenden / Hitchin and Bedford alongside changes to services along the route as follows:

East Midlands Railway:

• Trains will not be running between Bedford and London St Pancras International.
• Buses will be operating between Bedford and Hitchin, to connect with train services into London.
  on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of May
• Buses will be running between Bedford and Hitchin every 15 mins.

Train services will be amended on the following routes:

• Services that usually run between Sheffield and Derby and Nottingham to London St Pancras will terminate at Bedford.
• Services that usually run between Corby and St Pancras will run between Kettering and Corby or Bedford and Corby.

Thameslink:

Saturday the 7th of May:

• Buses will replace trains between Bedford and Harpenden

Train services will be amended on the following routes:

• Services that usually run between Bedford and Brighton will run only between Harpenden and Brighton, to a slightly amended timetable.
• Services that usually run between Luton and Rainham will run only between Kentish Town and Rainham, to a slightly amended timetable.

Sunday the 8th of May:

• Buses replace trains between Bedford and Harpenden.

Train services will be amended on the following routes:

• Services that usually run between Bedford and Brighton will run only between Harpenden and Haywards Heath, to a slightly amended timetable. Thameslink services will be unable to run to or from Brighton on this date due to engineering works which are taking place in the Preston Park area.
• Customers are advised to use Southern train services or replacement buses between Haywards Heath and Brighton.
• Services that usually run between Luton and Sutton will run only between St Albans and Sutton, to a slightly amended timetable.
• Services that usually run between West Hampstead / Kentish Town and Rainham will run only between Kentish Town and Gravesend, to a slightly amended timetable. This is due to engineering work taking place between Gravesend and Rainham.

Passengers are advised to plan their travel ahead of making their journey by using National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner or via their train operator.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

• For helpful information and advice should you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please visit: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/245738.aspx
• You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/default.aspx

The work comes as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade which once complete will see more trains able to run at higher speeds using overhead power lines. This will be the second of several weekends during 2022 which will see areas of the railway closed in order for engineers to work safely.

Gary Walsh, East Midlands Route Director for Network Rail, said: “I know how important it is for our passengers to get to where they need to be, on time. So, it’s great to see the progress we’ve made so far to ultimately bring better, faster and more reliable journeys between London and the East Midlands.

“If you’re planning to travel this weekend, please plan ahead to avoid any inconvenience as we continue this vital work.”

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director for EMR said: “We’re encouraging any passengers travelling to or from London this weekend to allow extra time for their journey, as there is a rail replacement service between Bedford and Hitchin.

“We would like to thank our passengers for their patience whilst the overhead line equipment between Luton and Bedford is upgraded.”