Midland Mainline disruption warning ahead of major weekend rail work

Network Rail is replacing overheard cables along the route

Network Rail has said major engineering work will cause disruption on the Midland Mainline through April and May.

Engineers have scheduled work to upgrade existing overhead lines over a number of upcoming weekends between the East Midlands and London.

Network Rail has apologised for inconvenience to passengers and urged them to check their journey details before travelling.

It said it would try to do most of the work overnight to reduce disruption.

Network Rail said the ongoing work would allow a new fleet of 125mph (201km/h) East Midlands Railway bi-modal trains to run along the route.

Teams will be working overnight between Bedford and Luton on Sundays throughout April and May, and rail replacement services between the stations will operate from 00:05 to 08:05 BST on 21 April and on 5, 12, and 19 May.

'Major upgrades'

On Saturday and Sunday, maintenance will be taking place on the Thameslink lines through central London, affecting services across the city.

On the weekend of 18 and 19 May, engineers will be continuing to install new overhead line equipment between Kettering and Wigston, near Leicester.

A reduced train service between Sheffield, Nottingham and London St Pancras will divert around the closure with rail replacement bus services operating for passengers travelling between Leicester, Market Harborough, and Kettering.

At the same time, Network Rail teams will also be working between Radlett and Cricklewood and a reduced service will operate in the area throughout the weekend.

Gavin Crook, from Network Rail East Midlands, said: "Work to deliver major upgrades to the Midland Main Line is ramping up and our engineers will be working hard throughout weekends in April and May to deliver these improvements.

"We always try to minimise disruption to passengers when carrying out work, which is why we are working overnight to upgrade existing overhead line equipment, but some work needs an extended period to be completed."