Passengers reminded of vital upgrades to Midland Main Line this weekend

Network Rail has issued the following reminder press release:

Rail passengers are being advised to check before they travel and plan ahead over the next two weekends as multi-million-pound Midland Main Line upgrades continue and buses replace trains.

Over the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September and Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, engineers will be working to:

• Upgrade existing overhead lines which power trains and track south of Bedford.

• Install new switches and crosses south of Bedford, the specialist equipment used by trains to cross from one track to another.

The South of Bedford upgrade is part of a wider scheme to improve the Midland Main Line to allow East Midlands Railway (EMR) to run its new fleet of electric trains up to 125mph in the future.

Once the scheme is fully complete, passengers can expect more reliable, faster, and quieter journeys as the travel along the route.

Separate to the Midland Main Line work, teams will be upgrading track in preparation for the Agar Grove bridge project and carrying out drainage work between Radlett and Agar Grove.

The latest upgrades will see changes to journeys over the next two weekends and passengers are being advised to plan ahead by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk or via their train operator*.

Gavin Crook, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail’s East Midlands route said: “This work will allow our teams to complete upgrades South of Bedford as part of the wider Midland Main Line scheme to bring passengers more reliable journeys.

“Upgrading track for the Agar Grove bridge project is an essential step ahead of the main bridge construction later in the year.

"We encourage customers to plan ahead with their journeys so they are up to date with the latest information, and we would like to thank passengers for their continued patience.”

Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Thameslink, said: “Thanks in advance to our customers for your patience while Network Rail carry out these essential improvements. We’ve arranged replacement buses to help you complete your journeys between Bedford and Luton on these weekends, so please plan ahead and allow extra time.”

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Service Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We recommend customers planning to travel to or from London on 21, 22, 28 or 29 September to check their journeys in advance by looking for updates on the EMR website.

“We are working closely with Network Rail to keep customers moving throughout the engineering work, and EMR services will be running where possible, however journey times may be longer than normal with rail replacement buses and amended timetables in place.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst the vital signalling work on the Midland Mainline takes place. This work will greatly benefit our customers in the future with more reliable journeys to and from London.”

For more information on the Midland Main Line upgrade visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/east-midlands/midland-main-line-upgrade/

Notes to Editors

Changes to train services*

21-22 September: A reduced timetable for EMR services will operate between London St Pancras International and Luton with a connecting rail replacement bus service between Luton and Bedford.

For Thameslink customers, buses will replace trains between Luton and Bedford.

Find more information here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/engineering-works/flitwick-21-sep-20240921/

28-29 September: There will be no EMR trains running between Bedford and London St Pancras International. An amended train service will run between Sheffield / Derby / Leicester / Corby and Bedford only.

Rail replacement buses will run between Bedford and Hitchin, connecting at Hitchin for alternative trains services to and from London.

For Thameslink customers, buses will replace trains between Luton and Bedford. Additionally, on Saturday a reduced train service will run between St Albans and London Blackfriars.

Find more information here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/engineering-works/bedford-and-london-st-pancras-international-20240928/