Disruption to travel along East Coast Main Line in March

Passengers travelling on the East Coast Main Line are set to face disruption across four weekends in March – due to upgrades affecting various sites between York and Newcastle.

The works will take place between March 7 and March 29, with additional digital signalling testing scheduled in Hertfordshire on Sunday, March 15 with the latter to affect journeys between Peterborough and London King’s Cross.

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Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail East Coast and LNER, said: “We’re carrying out a significant package of upgrades on the East Coast Main Line this March to keep trains running safely and reliably for the millions of passengers who depend on the route.

“The improvements, including renewing track and switches and crossings as week as progress with the Darlington station upgrade and East Coast Digital Programme, are important steps towards an even more modern, greener, safer and more reliable railway.

“We appreciate this work does mean changes to weekend services, and we’re grateful to passengers for their patience while we complete these upgrades.”

In the North East, more than 3.8km of track will be renewed, as well as new switches and crossings at three locations, and work will also continue on Darlington station.

Network Rail has outlined the following works:

• Cowton: 560 metres of new track and renewal of switches and crossings
• Croft: Renewal of switches and crossings
• Aycliffe: 1.3km of rail renewal
• Northallerton: 485 metres of new track and renewal of switches and crossings
• Low Fell: 1.6km of track renewal
• Darlington: Continued station upgrade works

On March 15, the East Coast Digital Programme will carry out further equipment testing between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin, part of a £1.4 billion scheme set to introduce digitally signalled passenger trains later this year.

The rigorous testing process checks the interaction between lineside equipment, onboard equipment and signalling control at York Rail Operating Centre.

Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at Rail Delivery Group, said: “As vital improvement works take place on the East Coast Main Line ahead of the Easter holiday, we’re advising passengers travelling between York and Newcastle at the weekend to plan ahead and allow extra time for travel, with the latest journey information available on the National Rail website.

“Our railway colleagues will be working hard to keep people moving, and we kindly ask everyone to treat them with kindness and respect as they help deliver a safe and reliable service.”

Rail replacement services will be in place, and passengers are advised to bring only what they can carry and allow for additional transfer time between trains and coaches.