This weekend will see a section of the railway close south of Peterborough to allow for the additional testing of digital signalling.

The work on the 23rd and 24th will take place between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

They will be developing the trackside equipment as part of the East Coast Digital Programme, ensuring that trains can transition in and out of the digitally controlled section reliably.

While the section is closed, they will also be rerailing at Welwyn and Wymondley, renewing the track at Letchworth Garden City and assessing and improving the drainage at Stevenage.

Grand Central services will not run, London North Eastern Railway will be implementing replacement buses, and Hull Trains will operate an amended service to/from London St Pancras.

Lumo will also run an amended service between Edinburgh and Newcastle only, and Thameslink and Great Northern services will not run between Potters Bar and Peterborough/Royston, or between Hertford North and Stevenage.

Full details of the disruptions can be found with service operators, and changes can be viewed on National Rail.

“The work taking place, including further testing, is part of our preparations for the introduction of digital in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line. We are also taking the opportunity to carry out vital work at other East Coast locations during the same weekend.

“We encourage passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel, and thank them for their patience and understanding of this work.”

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, ECDP