GTR Railway have let Richard know that on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May, Great Northern and Thameslink services on the East Coast Main Line will be affected by engineering work in connection with the ongoing East Coast Digital Programme.
During the weekend of 17/18 May, a significant milestone will be achieved on the East Coast Digital Programme when the existing old signals on the Northern City Line section of the route – between Finsbury Park and Moorgate - will be turned off and removed from use. After this point, all trains on this section will be entirely signalled digitally – a first for a commuter railway in the UK.
Other notable works in connection with the East Coast Digital Programme will also be taking place including high-speed digital signalling testing between Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City and preparatory digital signalling work between Peterborough and Biggleswade.
Given the significant engineering work affecting trains, GTR are advising customers to plan and check ahead of travelling over that weekend.
Over the whole weekend, no trains will run between London King’s Cross, St Pancras International or Moorgate and Peterborough or Royston. A shuttle train service will run between King’s Lynn and Royston. Replacement buses will run in closed sections and to link up with alternative rail routes on the Midland Main Line for connections to and from central London.
Journey planners on www.nationalrail.co.uk are up to date, alongside an update to the dedicated East Coast Digital Programme webpage.
Customer impact and replacement services on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May
On both days:
- No trains will run between London Kings Cross / London St Pancras International / Moorgate and Peterborough
- No trains will run between London Kings Cross / London St Pancras International / Moorgate and Royston.
- A shuttle train service will run between Royston and Ely / Kings Lynn.
- Replacement bus services will run between:
- Peterborough and Bedford via St. Neots
- Peterborough and Hitchin
- Royston and Hitchin
- Stevenage and Hertford North
- Hertford North and Alexandra Palace
- Stevenage and St Albans City via Welwyn Garden City
- Stevenage and Luton Airport Parkway via Hitchin
- Welwyn Garden City and Alexandra Palace
- Potters Bar and Cockfosters (for LU Piccadilly line services) via Hadley Wood
Ticket Acceptance
All valid rail tickets will be accepted on Thameslink services between Bedford and London and on Greater Anglia services between Cambridge North / Hertford East and London Liverpool Street.
Paper rail tickets will be accepted on:
- Elizabeth Line services between Farringdon and London Liverpool Street
- London Bus services between:
- New Barnet and High Barnet
- Moorgate and Drayton Park
- Kings Cross / Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace
- London Underground services between:
- Kings Cross St Pancras and Cockfosters / Tottenham Hale / London Liverpool Street
- Moorgate and High Barnet
The next closure as part of the East Coast Digital Programme will take place on Sunday 15 June, when there will be a closure between Peterborough or Royston and Potters Bar. More information will be provided nearer the time.
