As the electrification project on the Midland Main Line continues, regular users of the line at the London end are set to see several weekends of disruption, as the overhead wires and associating power cables are replaced so that they are uniform with the new powerlines that are already installed between Kettering and South Wigston.

The weekended closures, consisting of nine in total, will take place on selected weekends from Saturday 22 February and will last until mid-June.

There will be amended changes to the working timetables between St Pancras and Bedford with bus replacement services in operation.

The upgrading of the existing powerlines south of Bedford is an important step of the Midland Mainline electrification project which will enable East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) new Aurora fleet of bi-mode trains, to run on services connecting London with the midlands, which will deliver faster, better and greener journeys.

While the line is closed over the several weekends, Network Rail will take the opportunity to work on other projects between St Pancras and Bedford.

Improvements to the accessibility of both Luton and Flitwick stations will take place, along with work on the new station, which is being developed by Bedford Borough Council at Wixams.

A bridge at Harlington is set to be replaced, while the temporary bridge at Agar Grove in Camden will also be removed, following the vital role that it performed over the Christmas period in 2024.

Other maintenance includes track replacements into SEGRO’s Radlett Strategic Freight Interchange in Hertfordshire, while drainage works and other smaller jobs will also be tended to.

While these works are set to cause disruption throughout spring and early summer, anyone planning to travel to destinations on the southern end of the Midland Main Line is strongly advised to plan in advance before attempting to buy tickets so that alternative routes may be taken. Extra information can be found at nationalrail.co.uk.

“These vital upgrades between Bedford and London along the Midland Main Line are a crucial step in delivering a more reliable and efficient railway for many years to come.

We understand how disruptive work like this is and I’m sorry to passengers who will need to re-plan their journeys. We’re making sure we make the best use of these weekends and carrying out dozens of jobs which will make our railway more reliable at the same time. 

“I’d ask passengers to make sure they know which weekends are affected and plan their journeys well in advance.”

Mark Budden, route director for East Midlands