Rail passengers travelling on the East Coast Main Line are being urged to plan ahead as significant service changes will take place south of Peterborough on Sunday 15 March due to further testing of the new digital signalling system.
As part of the landmark £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), no trains will operate on large stretches of the route out of London King’s Cross. Long‑distance services from the north of England will instead start and terminate at Peterborough, with frequent coaches running between Peterborough and Bedford to connect passengers to Thameslink services into London.
The testing supports the introduction of digitally signalled passenger trains on the busy section between Welwyn and Hitchin, due later this year, aiming to deliver more reliable, greener and safer rail journeys. The programme requires extensive validation work to ensure smooth interaction between lineside equipment, onboard technology and signalling control at the York Rail Operating Centre.
Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s Head of Access Integration, ECDP, said:
“We thank passengers for their patience while further rigorous testing work is done ahead of the introduction of digital in-cab signalling on services from later this year. We expect Sunday 15 March to be the last significant ECDP related closure until late August, and it provides another step towards a more reliable, greener and even safer railway”.
Thameslink and Great Northern Customer Service Director Jenny Saunders added:
“We’re looking forward to the greater reliability that the digital signalling system will bring to our passenger services. In the meantime, please do check online at national rail enquiries before you travel on Sunday 15 March and allow extra time as your journey may involve taking a bus.”
In addition to the work south of Peterborough, a series of railway upgrades between York and Newcastle will take place over four weekends in March:
7–8, 14–15, 21–22 and 28–29 March.
Most passengers in the North East will still have services available, with an hourly diverted train connecting York, Northallerton and Newcastle via Sunderland.
Image and Video credits: Govia Thameslink Railway & iStock
