A major programme of railway upgrades south of Peterborough will take place over four consecutive weekends from the end of January, marking another important step towards the modernisation of the East Coast Main Line.
At the heart of the work is further progress on the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), the landmark initiative replacing traditional lineside signals with real-time, continuous information delivered directly to drivers’ cabs. Construction and rigorous system testing will be carried out alongside a wide range of essential renewals and maintenance activity.
From later this year, the programme will introduce digitally signalled passenger services on the main line between Welwyn and Hitchin. The move to digital signalling is expected to deliver tangible benefits for passengers and operators alike, supporting a railway that is more reliable, more sustainable and even safer.
Testing during the four-weekend programme will focus on the critical interaction between lineside equipment, onboard systems and the signalling controls at York Rail Operating Centre, ensuring that the digital infrastructure performs safely and effectively ahead of wider deployment.
Alongside the digital signalling work, Network Rail teams will be undertaking a significant volume of conventional infrastructure renewals, maximising the value of the planned access. The programme includes:
- track renewals at Finsbury Park, St Neots, Sandy station and Offord
- renewal or refurbishment of switches and crossings at Hitchin, Woodwalton and Wood Green
- upgrades to overhead line equipment at Stevenage and between Sandy and St Neots
- drainage renewals at Stevenage, Harringay, Biggleswade and Langford
- platform upgrades at Alexandra Palace
The scale of the work means that passenger services will be significantly affected across the four weekends.
On 31 January–1 February and 7–8 February*, there will be no train services between London and Peterborough/Royston, and no trains will operate to Stevenage via Hertford North. Long-distance operators will run amended services, with rail replacement buses operating between Peterborough and Bedford. Thameslink and Great Northern will also provide various rail replacement bus services.
On 15 February only**, there will be no trains between:
- Peterborough and London
- Potters Bar and St Neots/Letchworth Garden City
- Moorgate and Finsbury Park
- Stevenage and Hertford North
Rail replacement services will again run between Peterborough and Bedford, with Thameslink and Great Northern operating replacement buses across affected routes.
On 21–22 February*, the pattern returns to no train services between London and Peterborough/Royston, and no services to Stevenage via Hertford North, supported by rail replacement buses between Peterborough and Bedford and additional Thameslink and Great Northern replacement services.
Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, ECDP, said:
“A significant amount of vital work is taking place over these four weekends, including further steps to introduce digital signalling to the East Coast Main Line. This investment will mean a more reliable, greener and even safer railway for the millions of people who travel on this route each year.
“As well as the progress we’re making on digital signalling, we’re also taking the opportunity to complete a wide range of essential maintenance and renewal work. We appreciate that these upgrades will affect journeys, and we’re grateful to passengers for their patience while our teams carry out this essential work.”
For the industry, the four-weekend programme represents a clear example of how digital transformation and traditional asset stewardship are being delivered side by side, using planned access to unlock long-term performance benefits across one of the country’s most important rail corridors.
Image and video credit: Network Rail
