£5.46 million railway improvements in the East Midlands will affect passenger journeys over two weekends.
Network Rail teams will be carrying out engineering work in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire on Saturday 15, Sunday 16, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August.
Northern will have rail replacement buses running between Sheffield and Nottingham.
East Midlands Railway will have an amended timetable on the Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route, with trains not calling at Ilkeston, Langley Mill or Alfreton. There will also be a significantly reduced service to Sheffield. Passengers travelling to these stations can use Northern’s rail replacement buses at no extra cost.
The improvements will include:
– the renewal of 495 metres of drainage at Alfreton, Derbyshire, to help prevent flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, supporting safer, more reliable services for passengers.
– the renewal of several sets of points – the sections of track that allow trains to move between lines – at Blackwell South Junction, Derbyshire.
– the refurbishment of seven sets of points at Trowell Junction, on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, extending the safe operational life of the assets.
Eric Larocque, Network Rail Operations Director, said:
“These upgrades represent a significant investment that will help make the railway more reliable for passenger and freight services in the East Midlands. By renewing assets, including drainage systems, and renewing and refurbishing points, we’re investing in infrastructure that will help reduce the impact of flooding, improve performance and keep trains moving safely.
“We’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected. We’re grateful for passengers’ patience while we carry out the work, and we’re encouraging people to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling.”
A spokesperson for Northern and East Midlands Railway said:
“We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep customers moving while the work takes place. We encourage customers to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys. We’d like to thank passengers for their understanding while these important upgrades are carried out.”
