Warning to Brits ‘check before travel’ as major rail line's £1.4bn upgrade continues

Network Rail warned that a agelong of the East Coast Main Line volition acquisition investigating implicit the play (Image: Getty)

Network Rail has offered proposal to Brits reasoning of utilizing the East Coast Main Line during the play - urging each passengers to cheque earlier they travel.

The infrastructure manager has announced that signalling tests volition beryllium made connected the popular line betwixt Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 2024 arsenic portion of the £1.4billion East Coast Digital Programme.

Rick Barsby, caput of entree integration astatine Network Rail, highlighted that the tests volition assistance them to connection better bid services successful the future, but could lead to longer journeys implicit the weekend.

He explained: "The investigating enactment is simply a further measurement towards the instauration of digital, in-cab signalling connected the East Coast Main Line, which volition amended services for passengers and make a much reliable and greener railway.

"We recognise the enactment volition pb to journeys taking longer implicit that weekend. We convey each those affected for their patience and understanding."

Testing is acceptable to instrumentality spot betwixt Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin, apt causing delays (Image: Getty)

Spanning the 393-mile travel from London to Edinburgh, the East Coast Main Line is 1 of the astir fashionable successful the country, with much than 20 cardinal passengers utilizing it each year.

However, arsenic the East Coast Digital Programme is rolled out, the agelong betwixt Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin successful Hertfordshire volition beryllium undergoing high-speed investigating successful bid to proceedings integer signalling systems.

Network Rail has highlighted that this volition straight impact long-distance trains that permission from London King's Cross passim the weekend.

The organisation besides highlighted that passengers successful a fig of areas volition besides look a reduced work implicit the 2 days, including those utilizing a work by Hull Trains and Lumo.

LNER volition besides beryllium operating a reduced work connected trains that commencement and terminate astatine St Neots oregon Peterborough, but a replacement manager work volition tally to Bedford, wherever travellers tin articulation a Thameslink oregon EMR work to London St Pancras.

No substance what work passengers mean to use, Network Rail urge giving themselves plentifulness of other clip to spare and cheque that it is inactive moving earlier mounting off.

LNER trains moving from St Neots oregon Peterborough volition run a reduced work (Image: Getty)

Whilst the tests are owed to decorativeness connected Sunday, December 1 2024, Rory Brimmer, manager of the short-term conveyance rental work Turo, highlighted that disruptions to obstruction services could origin headaches for passengers implicit Christmas.

He added: "Owning a car makes nary consciousness for a immense fig of radical successful our largest cities. But astatine Christmas, this deficiency of flexibility tin marque a travel location truly stressful, with fractional of obstruction users successful our survey disquieted they won't marque it connected time.

"What should beryllium a joyful travel location to spot household for the festive play has go an anxiety-inducing acquisition for many. And erstwhile astatine location galore of america extremity up feeling similar kids again - forced to conform to different person’s docket and feeling similar a burden."