Network Rail and train operators are reminding passengers not to travel to or from London King's Cross, or on Thameslink services via Finsbury Park, this weekend as the next stage of the East Coast Upgrade continues.
When completed, the £1.2 billion upgrade will allow for more trains to run, and will create up to 10,000 extra seats a day.
On 20th and 21st June, engineers will be installing new overhead wire equipment as part of work to reopen a disused railway tunnel on the approach to London King's Cross.
For LNER passengers, there will be no trains between St Neots and London King's Cross. Three trains per hour will run from St Neots serving Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland. Other trains will terminate at different stations or will be cancelled. Currently, there are no plans for alternative transport between St Neots and London King's Cross.
Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “The COVID-19 crisis continues to bring significant challenges for the railway, however, we are working day and night to keep the railway running reliably and safely and to carry out essential work.
“On Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 June, we will continue with a vital project to upgrade the East Coast Main Line in a £1.2billion investment. We've changed our working methods on-site to make sure we can follow Public Health Guidelines and carry on with this project which will bring significant benefits for passengers.
“We'd like to remind everyone that they should only be making journeys that are necessary, but if you do need to travel, please seek alternative travel arrangements. Bus replacement services will be in place, but journey times will be significantly longer than usual.”
A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the route said: “We appreciate any engineering work can cause inconvenience, but this work is really important to make sure we have a railway which can meet the needs of communities and economies along the route for the long term. We thank our passengers in advance for their understanding and flexibility.
“The work will mean more reliable, more frequent and faster services with more seats, improving travel for our passengers. We'd urge passengers to continue to follow the Government advice to only travel when necessary, and to avoid the use of public transport where possible at this time. If you have to travel, please remember to wear a face covering and check how your journey will be affected by visiting EastCoastUpgrade.co.uk, National Rail Enquiries or check with your specific train operator.”
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I never understood why the 3rd tunnel at Kings Cross was ever taken out of commission in the first place, complete short sightedness by BR all those years ago, and now the taxpayer has to fork out millions to bring it back into use, can somebody please tell me the absolute stupid logic in this?
£1.2billion investment improvement for the East Coast Main Line is what it’s needed. Including the construction of the new underpass at Werrington Junction, Peterborough.