Warning to Brits ‘check before travel’ as rail line’s £1.4bn upgrade continues

Network Rail has offered advice to Brits thinking of using the East Coast Main Line during the weekend – urging all passengers to check before they travel.

The infrastructure manager has announced that signalling tests will be made on the popular line between Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 2024 as part of the £1.4billion East Coast Digital Programme.

Rick Barsby, head of access integration at Network Rail, highlighted that the tests will help them to offer better train services in the future, but could lead to longer journeys over the weekend.

He explained: “The testing work is a further step towards the introduction of digital, in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will improve services for passengers and create a more reliable and greener railway.

“We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend. We thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.”

Spanning the 393-mile trip from London to Edinburgh, the East Coast Main Line is one of the most popular in the country, with more than 20 million passengers using it each year.

However, as the East Coast Digital Programme is rolled out, the stretch between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin in Hertfordshire will be undergoing high-speed testing in order to trial digital signalling systems.

Network Rail has highlighted that this will directly affect long-distance trains that leave from London King’s Cross throughout the weekend.

The organisation also highlighted that passengers in a number of areas will also face a reduced service over the two days, including those using a service by Hull Trains and Lumo.

LNER will also be operating a reduced service on trains that start and terminate at St Neots or Peterborough, but a replacement coach service will run to Bedford, where travellers can join a Thameslink or EMR service to London St Pancras.

No matter what service passengers intend to use, Network Rail recommend giving themselves plenty of extra time to spare and check that it is still running before setting off.

Whilst the tests are due to finish on Sunday, December 1 2024, Rory Brimmer, director of the short-term vehicle rental service Turo, highlighted that disruptions to rail services could cause headaches for passengers over Christmas.

He added: “Owning a car makes no sense for a huge number of people in our largest cities. But at Christmas, this lack of flexibility can make a trip home really stressful, with half of rail users in our survey worried they won’t make it on time.

“What should be a joyful journey home to see family for the festive season has become an anxiety-inducing experience for many. And once at home many of us end up feeling like kids again – forced to conform to another person’s schedule and feeling like a burden.”