Passengers are advised to plan ahead as essential upgrades on the Midland Main Line will disrupt services to and from London St Pancras this Christmas.
Rail tracks will be closed between London St Pancras and Harpenden for nine consecutive days (Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 December), with no Thameslink trains south of Harpenden and no East Midlands Railway (EMR) services south of Bedford.
The work is part of a larger project to enhance rail reliability and allow EMR trains to run more sustainably.
Network Rail teams will be working on a wide range of major improvements, including upgrading the overhead lines that power trains, replacing a bridge deck at Agar Grove, and installing a new bridge for Radlett’s Strategic Freight Interchange.
Passenger services will be severely disrupted while this work is taking place, and customers are being encouraged to plan their whole journey, including connections, as soon as possible.
For the latest travel advice and full details on alternative routes and rail replacement bus services, passengers are urged to visit:
- East Midlands Railway
- Thameslink
- National Rail Enquiries
Mark Budden, route director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said: “With less than a week to go until the work begins, we strongly encourage passengers to check their travel plans in advance, as engineering work will affect several routes throughout December.
“While these essential upgrades may cause temporary disruption, they will result in faster, smoother, and more reliable journeys for passengers in the future.
“Christmas is the ideal time to carry out this work with minimal impact, as fewer people are travelling. Whilst that is beneficial from an engineering perspective, we do recognise that passengers still need to travel for work and to visit friends and relatives over the Christmas season. We would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding during this vital work.”
Philippa Cresswell, customer service director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We recommend customers planning to travel to or from London between Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 29 December to check their journeys in advance by looking for updates on the EMR website.
“We are working closely with other operators to keep customers moving throughout the festive period; however, journey times will be significantly longer than normal, with rail replacement buses and amended timetables in place.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst these vital engineering upgrades take place. This work will directly benefit our customers in the future, allowing the introduction of our new Aurora bi-mode trains.”
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Jenny Saunders, customer service director for Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We know how important this time of the year is to our customers, which is why, with such a lengthy period of improvement work planned over the festive period, including some working weekdays, we want people to plan ahead. It really is vital to consider your options now, allow plenty of extra time for your journey, and check the latest before you set out for the station. Thank you for your patience.”
Neil Thompson, chief operations officer at London Luton Airport, said: “Passengers travelling to and from London Luton Airport by rail between 21 and 29 December are advised to plan their route in advance and allow extra time for their journey.
“LLA’s excellent connectivity means there are alternative public transport options for the airport, and those travelling to the terminal by car can choose from a range of parking, pick-up, and drop-off options, including directly in front of the terminal. As ever, our teams will be working hard to deliver a simple and friendly passenger experience for everyone passing through the airport over Christmas.”
