Network Rail is urging passengers travelling between Sheffield, the East Midlands and St Pancras International on weekends in August to check before travelling as vital work to improve journeys for passengers takes place on the Midland Main Line.
To allow the work to be carried out safely, sections of the Midland Main Line will be closed, which means that passengers may need to change trains or use bus replacement services.
Network Rail, East Midlands Railway, Govia Thameslink Railway and CrossCountry are urging passengers to check their journeys via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator and allow plenty of time. Major work is being carried out over weekends and during the August Bank:
- Sunday 2 August – until approximately 08:55, Thameslink trains from Bedford to London will terminate at Mill Hill Broadway. Replacement buses will operate to and from London St Pancras International.
- Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August – East Midlands Railway services will terminate at Luton, with trains continuing to run to Bedford. Thameslink Bedford route services will not be affected.
- Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August – East Midlands Railway services will terminate at Luton, with trains continuing to run to Bedford.
- Sunday 16 August – until approximately 09:30, buses will replace Thameslink trains between Luton and St Albans City.
- Saturday 22 August – buses will replace East Midlands Railway services between Leicester and Bedford.
- Sunday 23 August – buses will replace East Midlands Railway services between Leicester and Luton. Buses will also replace Thameslink trains between Bedford and Luton.
- Saturday 29 August – no Thameslink trains will operate through central London between St Pancras International and Blackfriars/London Bridge.
- August Bank Holiday – From 23:30 on Saturday 29 August, through Sunday and until 05:45 on Monday 31 August, Thameslink trains from Bedford to London will terminate at Mill Hill Broadway, with buses replacing trains to and from London St Pancras International.
After 05:45 on Bank Holiday Monday, trains will run to/from London St Pancras International, but will be diverted to run to alternative platforms in a different part of the station. No trains will call at Kentish Town.
Rail Operators strongly advise passengers to check their individual journeys via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator before travelling, and allow plenty of time.