Rail passengers that travel between Peterborough/King's Lynn and London are being advised to plan their journeys as scheduled signalling work will lead to cancellations and disruption on some lines.

On Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1, testing of a recently installed digital signalling system will take place between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin. The railway needs to be closed in and around the affected session to allow for the testing to be carried out.

As a result, there will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains between Potters Bar and St Neots, Potters Bar and Rosyton, or between Hertford North and Stevenage that weekend. Rail replacement buses will operate instead.

Further information regarding rail replacement buses and train diversions

On Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1:

No trains will run between:

  • Potters Bar and St Neots
  • Potters Bar and Royston
  • Hertford North and Stevenage

A rail replacement bus service will run between:

  • Potters Bar and Hitchin
  • Hitchin and Royston
  • Hertford and Stevenage
  • St Albans City and Stevenage via Hatfield
  • Luton Airport Parkway and Stevenage via Hitchin
  • St Neots and Bedford
  • St Neots and Hitchin

Trains will run between:

  • St Neots and Peterborough
  • Royston and Cambridge/King's Lynn
  • London King's Cross and Potters Bar
  • Moorgate and Potters Bar/Hertford North

The testing is part of the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme, which will see traditional, lineside signals replaced with signalling displayed inside drivers' cabs. It will mean more reliable journeys and a greener railway.

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s Head of Access Integration, ECDP, said: "The testing work is a further step towards the introduction of digital, in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will improve services for passengers and create a more reliable and greener railway.

"We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend. We thank all those affected for their patience and understanding."