Train services between Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, and London St Pancras will be severely disrupted this weekend, Saturday, 22nd and Sunday, 23rd March, because of engineering work at Loughborough.

The work is in connection with the multi-million-pound Midland Main Line improvements that required a railway bridge at Barrow upon Soar to be lowered to make room for overhead line equipment.

During the closure, drainage work will be carried out at Draycott, and points will be replaced at Long Eaton.

Service alterations

Saturday, 22nd March, after 6 pm

• Times of East Midlands Railway Intercity services between Sheffield/Derby/Nottingham and London St Pancras International will be revised.
• Rail-replacement buses will operate between East Midlands Parkway and Loughborough, and between Loughborough and Leicester.
• Some regional services will terminate at Nottingham, with rail-replacement buses between Nottingham and Leicester.

Sunday 23 March – train service alterations:

• A reduced service with revised times will operate between Sheffield/Derby/Nottingham and London St Pancras International:
• Between Derby and East Midlands Parkway – no train service.

Sunday 23 March – rail replacement bus services will operate between:

• Derby and Leicester
• Nottingham and Leicester

Further information about the changes to services is online here.

The Midland Main Line improvements are also affecting other parts of the route, including near London St Pancras last Christmas and on weekends until June.

“This essential work at Barrow upon Soar is an important milestone in our programme to modernise the Midland Main Line. By lowering the track rather than raising the bridge, we’re able to minimise disruption to the local community while still delivering these crucial improvements. Track lowering is a less intrusive and more cost-effective solution that will allow us to install the overhead line equipment needed for electric trains in the future, which will provide passengers with greener, more reliable journeys. We would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while this work takes place.”

Amanda Mackie, senior sponsor for Network Rail