Network Rail is reminding passengers to plan ahead this weekend as the latest stage of the Midland Main Line upgrade takes place.
On Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 May, engineers will install four new sets of points at Sharnbrook Junction, which is on the line between Kettering and Bedford.
The work is needed for the construction of the new line between Bedford and Kettering which will allow more trains to run.
To allow the work to be carried out safely, no trains will be able to run on the line between Bedford and Corby and services will be affected in the following way:
- Trains will start/terminate at Corby
- Trains will not operate between Wellingborough and Bedford
- Rail replacement buses will operate between Corby, Wellingborough and Bedford
- Trains will operate between Bedford and London St Pancras International but will not call at Luton or Luton Airport Parkway
- Journey times will be significantly extended
What did the officials say?
Rob McIntosh, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, said:
“I would urge all passengers planning to travel between Bedford and Corby this weekend to plan ahead and check before they travel as work takes place as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade.
“This work is really important and is the latest stage of work to construct a fourth rail line between Bedford and Kettering which will provide the capacity for more services to run. This will enable us to continue to railway which meets the needs of the passengers, communities and economies we serve.
“There's never a good time to work on the railway, we do so at the weekend as it is a time when fewer people travel, but we do understand it can still cause disruption and we do apologise for this.”
Jake Kelly, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains said:
“As the Midland Main Line Upgrade work continues, we are advising any passengers travelling to Bedford and Corby on the 11th and 12th May to check before they travel as their journeys will be disrupted.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the disruption during this time.”
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Will Network Rail expand the electrification on the Midland Main Line if there were plans for the MML electrification to extend beyond Market Harborough to Leicester, Nottingham and Derby and perhaps Sheffield and Leeds if approved. Whilst new Bi-mode (Class 7xx/8xx) trains will be built and to be operated on the Midland Main Line and to replace the Class 43 HSTs & Class 222 Meridian DEMU. With the new East Midlands Railway franchise to be declared from August this year.