Network Rail's investment in East Midland's railway lines will bring many positives for passengers such as more reliable journeys and improved stations whilst pushing forward with the electrification of the Midland Main Line.
Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of December will see St Albans station get its brand-new second footbridge lifted into position and will provide improvement for passengers making their way through the station, especially during busier times of the day.
The weekends of the 3rd and 4th and the 10th and 11th of December will also see engineers carrying out work on the multi-million pound Midland Main Line electrification scheme. The vast project will see overhead line equipment which powers trains, upgraded south of Bedford.
Important work will also be carried out to lower the tracks through Main Street bridge in Market Harborough which will provide a clear path for the installation of overhead electric wires in the future. The project supports the Governments targets for decarbonisation and in time will provide a more reliable and environmentally friendly railway.
Work taking place during December will see changes to services as follows:
- Changes to services between Luton and London St Pancras over both weekends
- Rail replacement buses will be in operation between Leicester and Kettering via Market Harborough on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of December
Gary Walsh, East Midlands Route Director for Network Rail said: “Over the next two weekends, we'll be powering ahead with improvements across the East Midlands to deliver a better railway for passengers and improve St Albans station.
“We've worked with our train operating colleagues to keep as many people moving as we can by using road replacements and diversions, so passengers should check before travelling and allow extra time for their journey.”
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern said: “Network Rail's investment along this important route will bring a range of benefits for our customers, and we've worked closely together to minimise the short-term inconvenience over these weekends. Replacement buses will be operating to help people complete their journeys, so please plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time.”
Further strike action by union RMT has been announced for eight days during December and January and is expected to create substantial disruption. For further information and the latest updates please visit: networkrail.co.uk/industrial-action.
Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director for EMR said: “We are asking any customers planning to travel to or from London over the next few weekends to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to complete their journeys.
“Strike action will also affect EMR services on Saturday 3 December, we will be running a significantly reduced train service on all of our routes. More details can be found on the EMR website.
“We would like to thank our passengers for their patience whilst Network Rail make progress on the electrification of the Midland Main Line and strike action is taking place.”
On the weekend of 7th/8th January2023 Kings Cross is closed and passengers will be bussed from the eastcoast mainline to Bedford for onward journey to London. Having regard to the overcrowding on East Midland trains would it not be possible to divert some h.s.t. hauled trains from Peterborough to London via Leicester
Network Rail should extend the electrification on the Midland Main Line all the way to Nottingham, Sheffield and Derby. But so far the electrification is only going as far as Market Harborough in South Leicestershire.
Since phase 1 of the MML electrification began few years ago and was extended from Bedford to Kettering and Corby with Ex-GA now EMR Connect Class 360/1 Desiros operating the St. Pancras International-Kettering & Corby services. Which replaced the Class 222 Meridians.
Since when has “south of Bedford” been in the East Midlands?
Leicester, Nottingham Chesterfield etc go begging with old deisels while all the money goes “south of Bedford” – i. e. London area – yet again.
The EMR Intercity Class 810 Auroras are currently under manufacture at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory and these new Bi-mode trains will be coming into service from mid next year.