Network Rail, East Midlands Railway (EMR), and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) are encouraging passengers to check their journey before travelling as major engineering work to upgrade the Midland Main Line continues throughout April and May.
Engineers will be working across upcoming weekends to upgrade existing overhead line equipment south of Bedford and to continue installing new overhead wires between Kettering and Wigston as part of the multi-million-pound Midland Main Line Upgrade.
The work will mean EMR’s new fleet of greener bi-mode trains will be able to operate at 125mph and will mean faster, quieter, and more reliable journeys for passengers travelling between the East Midlands and London.
To upgrade existing equipment, Network Rail teams will be working overnight between Bedford and Luton on Sundays throughout April and May.
Throughout this coming weekend, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April, maintenance to improve reliability will be taking place on the Thameslink lines through central London.
The work means there will be no cross-London Thameslink services running between St Pancras and London Bridge or Sutton/Wimbledon.
On the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May, engineers will be continuing to install new overhead line equipment between Kettering and Wigston.
Network Rail teams will also be installing new switches and crossings, the specialist equipment used by trains to cross from one track to another, between Radlett and Cricklewood.
Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said:
“Work to deliver major upgrades to the Midland Main Line is ramping up and our engineers will be working hard throughout weekends in April and May to deliver these improvements.”
“We always try to minimise disruption to passengers when carrying out work which is why we are working overnight to upgrade existing overhead line equipment, but some work needs an extended period to be completed.”
Photo Credit: Network Rail
