East Midlands Railway (EMR) is warning passengers travelling on its Intercity route this weekend (Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October) that rail replacement buses will run between East Midlands Parkway and Leicester due to bridge demolition work.

Network Rail workers will be demolishing Flying Arch bridge, which is at Sutton Bonington, near Loughborough.

The demolition of the bridge is necessary to make space for overhead line equipment as part of the electrification of the Midland Main Line. However, although electrification had been progressing, the programme has been paused. The Department of Transport has agreed that the bridge demolition can go ahead, so that the route is ready if and when electrification resumes in the future.

As part of the work, Network Rail engineers will establish the clearance needed by larger freight trains to run on this section of the line. This will increase the capacity of the line to carry goods, which will reduce congestion and cut carbon emissions.

Due to this work, East Midlands Railway will run a reduced Intercity service between Sheffield, Derby and East Midlands Parkway this weekend. It is advising passengers to allow extra time for their journeys, which will involve using the rail replacement buses between Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway and Leicester, where passengers can continue their journey by train to London.

Passengers travelling between Sheffield and East Midlands Parkway will need to connect onto a rail replacement bus at East Midlands Parkway. Those travelling between Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway will be able to take a rail replacement bus to Leicester, where they can board a train to London St Pancras.

Passengers can check details of their journeys before travelling with National Rail or East Midlands Railway.

“We recommend customers planning to travel this weekend to check their journey in advance as your journey will take much longer than usual.

“Rail replacement buses will be in place between East Midlands Parkway and Leicester calling at all local stations along the route, with no direct journeys to London St Pancras from Sheffield or Nottingham.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst Network Rail carry out these infrastructure works.”

Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director for EMR