Train Services Disrupted Between London and Scotland Over Four Weekends
Train services between London and Scotland will face significant disruptions over four weekends in March. This is due to essential upgrades along the East Coast Main Line affecting travel plans for many commuters and passengers.
Scheduled Disruptions and Dates
The upgrades will take place on the weekends spanning from Saturday, March 7th to Sunday, March 29th. Specific details are as follows:
- March 7th-8th: Disruptions in place.
- March 14th-15th: Service interruptions, particularly between Peterborough and London King’s Cross.
- March 21st-22nd: Continued disruptions.
- March 28th-29th: Final weekend of service changes.
Impacted Services and Alternatives
During these weekends, several train operators will run reduced services or offer bus replacements. The affected operators include:
- CrossCountry
- Grand Central
- Lumo
- Northern
- TransPennine
On Sunday, March 15th, LNER will amend its services, operating only between Peterborough and Bedford to provide onward connections to London St Pancras. Additionally, Thameslink and Great Northern will not operate between:
- Potters Bar and Letchworth Garden City/St Neots
- Hertford North and Stevenage
Nature of Upgrades
The construction work includes the renewal of tracks, switches, and crossings in key areas such as:
- Cowton
- Croft
- Aycliffe
- Northallerton
- Low Fell
Furthermore, the Darlington station upgrade is ongoing with the installation of overhead line equipment. The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) will also see testing conducted on March 15th between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin.
Official Statement
Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director of Network Rail East Coast and LNER, expressed the importance of these upgrades. He stated, “We’re carrying out a significant package of upgrades on the East Coast Main Line this March to keep trains running safely and reliably for the millions of passengers who depend on the route.” He acknowledged the temporary inconveniences and thanked passengers for their understanding.
Travelers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys during these improvements. More information on alternative transport options will be available leading up to the scheduled disruptions.
