Network Rail is warning passengers that buses will replace trains between Bedford/Luton and London St Pancras and between Leicester and Peterborough this weekend (Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May).

Engineers will be carrying out work to the south of Luton, upgrading overhead power lines. The work is part of the scheme to electrify the line between London and Bedford, which will enable East Midlands Railway’s bi-mode trains to run at speeds up to 125mph.

This weekend is the seventh of nine in which major work is being carried out on this project. Further
closures on the Midland Main Line between London and Bedford will take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May and on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June.

On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May, East Midlands Railway (EMR) will run an amended timetable between Sheffield/Nottingham/Corby and Luton. Rail replacement bus services will run between Luton and Hitchin to connect with Great Northern/Thameslink services to London.

Thameslink services will not run between Luton and West Hampstead Thameslink on Saturday 10 or Sunday 11 May.

There will be an amended timetable for trains running between Bedford and Luton, and between West Hampstead Thameslink and Three Bridges/Horsham/Brighton. Rail replacement buses will operate.

Network Rail is advising passengers travelling to Luton Airport that their journeys will take longer than usual and will involve travelling by bus between Hitchin and Luton Airport Parkway station.

Buses will also replace trains between Leicester and Peterborough this weekend, as Oakham station and level crossing will be closed to allow Network Rail to renew the track in this area. Pedestrians will still be able to use the footbridge at Oakham station during this work.

Train services from Nottingham to Norwich will also be disrupted.

Network Rail expects to complete the work at Oakham station the following weekend, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May. Buses will replace CrossCountry trains between Leicester/Melton Mowbray/Oakham and Peterborough for the whole of the weekend.

“We have made significant strides in recent weekend on our Midland Main Line electrification project, which will deliver more reliable, greener journeys between London and Bedford.

“This coming weekend will see further progress made on the scheme, and we are grateful for passengers for their patience and understanding during the disruption on 10 and 11 May.”

Gavin Crook, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail