Disruption warning as Christmas rail work starts

East Midlands Railway said the disruption would last from Saturday to 29 December

Railway engineering works, which are expected to "severely" disrupt services to London over Christmas, are under way.

Train operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) said the work would last from Saturday to 29 December, and affect all its Intercity and Connect services to London St Pancras.

Network Rail is carrying out a major scheme to replace overhead electric power lines and other "vital and extensive" maintenance works to support the future expansion of freight operations on the network.

During the work, no trains will run between Bedford and London St Pancras, and passengers will be required to travel onwards on replacement bus services.

Overhead rail lines are to be upgraded, Network Rail said

The buses will operate between Bedford and Milton Keynes, EMR said.

Passengers will then continue their journey into London Euston, instead of St Pancras, via the West Coast Main Line.

EMR said its platforms at London St Pancras would be closed for the duration of the works.

For passengers travelling north from London, they will need to take a train from London Euston to Milton Keynes, where rail replacement buses will transfer them over to EMR services at Bedford.

EMR said journey times were expected to take "significantly longer than normal" and could be increased by up to one hour due to the replacement bus services.

Travellers have been encouraged to plan their journeys well in advance.

Network Rail's Mark Budden said the current works would make future journeys smoother and faster

Mark Budden, route director for Network Rail's East Midlands route, said: "Christmas is the ideal time to carry out this work with minimal impact, as fewer people are travelling.

"Whilst that is beneficial for an engineering perspective, we do recognise that passengers are still needing 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."

EMR said the work would allow it to introduce a new fleet of bi-mode Aurora trains in the future

Mr Budden said the work would result in "faster, smoother and more reliable journeys" in the future.

The work includes overhead line power upgrades as part of the Midland Mainline electrification programme and the replacement of a 160-year-old road bridge over a railway in Agar Grove, in Camden.

The third part of the project includes works for the future expansion of freight operations in Radlett, near Watford.

Philippa Cresswell, customer service director at EMR, said the firm would run up to 12 buses per hour between Bedford and Milton Keynes in both directions.

Ms Cresswell said the works would be "worth it" ahead of the introduction of the new Aurora bi-mode fleet, which would be able to run on electric and diesel, and provide modern interiors and 45% more seats than other current fleets.