Next month work is to start at key locations along the fen line between King's Lynn and Cambridge in order to improve services for passengers.
Work at Littleport and Waterbeach is to see platforms extended and signals relocated so that longer trains can be accommodated. This will provide more space and seats for passengers and ease overcrowding, particularly at peak times.
Along with this a new train siding is being built at King's Lynn in order for longer trains to be in place for the first and last service of the day.
To deliver these important benefits for passengers, engineers will have to work over several weekends between October 2019 and Easter 2020. The new services are likely to come into operation for the start of the December 2020 timetable.
Great Northern and Greater Anglia weekend services between King's Lynn and Cambridge may be affected by the work. There are changes to the timetables and bus replacement services operating to allow passengers to continue their journey.
Work takes place on the following dates:
- 5 – 6 October 2019
- 12 – 13 October 2019
- 26 – 27 October 2019
- 2 – 3 November 2019
- 9 -10 November 2019
- 23 – 24 November 2019
- 30 November- 1 December 2019
- 25 – 26 December 2019
- 1 -2 February 2020
- 22 -23 February 2020
- Easter weekend 10-12 April 2020
CrossCountry services to and from Stansted via Ely and East Midland services between Norwich and Peterborough via Ely may also be affected.
Passengers travelling on these routes are being advised to check before travelling on the weekends affected.
What did the officials have to say?
Mark Budden, route director for Network Rail Anglia said:
“With work starting in October, we are forging ahead with delivering these important improvements for passengers travelling on the Fen line.
“I am sorry for the weekend disruption to services. When complete, it will bring much needed relief on overcrowded peak services between King's Lynn and Cambridge, improving the journey experience for passengers.”
Keith Jipps, infrastructure director at Govia Thameslink Railway which runs Great Northern, said:
“Longer trains will make a huge difference for our passengers between King's Lynn and Cambridge so I'm very pleased this work is about to start.
“However, I do urge people to check online at www.nationalrail.co.uk for the temporary changes we'll need to introduce during each weekend of engineering work.”
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Will there be any plans to upgrade the Fen Line from Watlington to Kings Lynn from a current single track to double track. Or is it impossible because of the land is protected. As the Fen Line cuts through the Cambridgeshire Fens.
And as part of doubling the railway line on the Fen Line. Maybe reopen the former platform at Kings Lynn railway station and to be renumbered as platform 3 with platform 1 renumbered as platform 2 and platform 2 renumbered as platform 1 at Kings Lynn railway station.