Vital Upgrades between London St Pancras and Bedford | Rail Technology Magazine

Rail tracks are to 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 in Camden, North London, 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.

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, it 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 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.”

Image credits: Network Rail