Network Rail has supplied recommendation to Brits considering of utilizing the East Coast Main Line throughout the weekend – urging all passengers to examine earlier than they journey.
The infrastructure supervisor has introduced that signalling checks shall be made on the favored line between Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 2024 as a part of the £1.4billion East Coast Digital Programme.
Rick Barsby, head of entry integration at Network Rail, highlighted that the checks will assist them to supply higher prepare companies sooner or later, however might result in longer journeys over the weekend.
He defined: “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 result in journeys taking longer over that weekend. We thank all these affected for his or her persistence 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 automobile is not sensible for an enormous variety of individuals in our largest cities. But at Christmas, this lack of flexibility could make a visit house actually aggravating, with half of rail customers in our survey anxious they will not 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.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1980993/travel-train-warning-east-coast-main-line-testing