Peterborough to London trains to be disrupted as digital signalling work takes place

Train services between Peterborough and London King’s Cross will be disrupted on the last weekend of November because of work in connection with the installation of digital signalling. On Saturday, 28th and Sunday, 29th November, many train services will be replaced by bus or coach services. The signalling work will include updates to diagnostic systems and software to improve reliability in preparation for the implementation of digital in-cab signalling during 2027. Other work during the weekend will include further work to provide step-free access at Alexandra Palace, track renewal at New Southgate and Potters Bar, and work on the station canopy at Bowes Park. In addition, overhead line electrical equipment will be upgraded at various locations. The disruption will affect train services operated by London North Eastern Railway, Grand Central, Great Northern, Thameslink, Hull Trains, and Lumo. Summary of service changes on Saturday, 28th and Sunday, 29th November Grand Central: - All services cancelled. - The 07.48 London King’s Cross to Sunderland will not run on Monday 30 November. Great Northern and Thameslink: - No trains between Moorgate/London St Pancras/London King’s Cross and Letchworth Garden City/Peterborough all weekend. - A shuttle train service will operate between Letchworth Garden City and Cambridge/Ely/Kings Lynn. - Rail replacement buses will run between affected stations. - Valid train tickets will be accepted on Thameslink services between London St Pancras and Bedford, and on Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East/Cambridge North. - Paper rail tickets will be accepted on some London Overground and London bus services. Hull Trains: - Two trains will run in each direction on Saturday and three on Sunday. - Trains will not call at Beverley, Cottingham, Doncaster, Retford or Grantham. LNER: - Most services will start and terminate at Peterborough. - Rail replacement coaches will run between Peterborough and Bedford for connections with Thameslink trains to London St Pancras. - Some return train services will also run from Newcastle to Bedford for connections with Thameslink services to London. - More information and ticket booking details can be found here. Lumo: - There will be a reduced service between Newcastle and Edinburgh/Glasgow Queen Street only. On 31st August, the first passenger train using digital in-cab signalling ran on the East Coast Main Line, and Grand Central has received approval to operate its Class 180 fleet with digital signalling. “We have begun to introduce digital in-cab signalling to the East Coast Main Line,and we’re getting ready to extend its use to more services. When all trains operate with digital signalling, there will be reliability benefits through less reliance on trackside equipment and better ability to recover from disruption. We are also taking the opportunity to do other vital engineering work on the track and lineside to improve the reliability of day-to-day services. We’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected. Those customers who have choice about when they can travel may want to consider travelling on days before or after, which are unaffected by work. For those who need to travel on the affected weekend, we have plans in place to keep passengers moving.” Ricky Barsby, Network Rail head of access integration (ECDP)