Rail passengers in the East Midlands are being urged to check before travelling this November as national strike action and major engineering work will limit train services.
On Saturday 5 November, no trains will run south of Luton with replacement buses running between Luton and Hitchin. Limited East Midlands Railway trains will run between Luton and Corby, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Bedford. Thameslink will run a limited shuttle between Luton and Bedford.
- National rail strikes planned for 5, 7 and 9 November will significantly reduce train services across the East Midlands
- Work on three major engineering projects between London and Luton will push ahead over the next two weekends (5 / 6 and 12 / 13 November)
- Passengers should plan ahead, check before travelling and only travel if necessary on strike days
On Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November, industrial action will mean that a very limited timetable will run across the region between 7.30am and 6.30pm and some routes will be closed altogether.
During the strikes, passengers should only travel by train if it’s necessary. Those who really need to travel should plan ahead using National Rail Enquiries, know their last train home and expect some significant disruption.
The impact will be felt between Saturday 5 and Thursday 10 November, with trains likely to start later or finish earlier than usual on the days after each strike.
Network Rail is also continuing work on three major projects, designed to offer a better service for passengers, including building the new Brent Cross West station, a new footbridge at St Albans City station, and upgrading overhead power lines south of Bedford.
This means that no passenger trains will run between St Pancras and Luton on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November; or on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November, and there will be a very limited Luton service on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December.
Additional work on the new Brent Cross West station, overhead power line upgrade and a track renewal at Elstree on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December, will also affect services between Luton and Cricklewood.
At this crucial stage in the project, passengers using St Albans City station will need to use a diversion via Hatfield Road to switch between platforms. Ridgmont Road car park will also be closed until Friday 11 November, so drivers should find alternative parking and speak to station staff if they need any help.
Gary Walsh, East Midlands Route Director for Network Rail said: “I’m really sorry to passengers who will be impacted by this latest round of strike action.
“Our fully qualified back-up staff are stepping up wherever they can to continue to run as many trains as possible, but there will inevitably be some significant disruption between Saturday 5 and Thursday 10 November.
“We’re also at a crucial stage in several projects which will deliver better journeys and improved stations for passengers travelling on the southern end of the Midland Main Line. I’m sorry that this will further disrupt journeys.
“Our best advice is to plan ahead, check before you travel with National Rail or your train operator, and to only travel by train if it’s absolutely necessary on strike days.”
With strikes affecting the whole country – including alternative routes north of London such as the East Coast Main Line and West Coast Main Line – services that do run will be much busier than usual and planning ahead is essential.
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