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East Coast Digital Programme

East Coast Digital Programme

We're working with colleagues and partners across the rail industry to modernise signalling on some of our Great Northern and Thameslink routes.

This means that traditional lineside signals, many of which were installed in the 1970s, will be replaced by state-of-the-art digital signalling – creating a better performing East Coast Main Line for our customers and everyone else who uses it. 

There will be engineering works to allow this to be carried out. Here, you will find information about how your journey is affected. You can also find out more information about the programme, including answers to your frequently asked questions.

Major engineering work will affect Thameslink and Great Northern services between London and Peterborough King’s Lynn on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November.  

There will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains between Potters Bar, Peterborough / Royston, or between Hertford North and Stevenage.   

Please see the full service summary below.   

Saturday and Sunday 22-23 November  

On both days, no trains will run between:  

  • Potters Bar and Peterborough 
  • Potters Bar and Royston 
  • Hertford North and Stevenage 

A rail replacement bus service will run between:   

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

Trains will run between:  

  • Royston and Cambridge / Kings Lynn 
  • London King’s Cross and Potters Bar  
  • Moorgate / Finsbury Park and Potters Bar / Hertford North 

Ticket acceptance 

  • Thameslink service between Bedford and London
  • Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge / Cambridge North

Paper tickets will be accepted on TfL Underground services between:

  • Kings Cross St Pancras - Tottenham Hale (Victoria Line)
  • Kings Cross St Pancras - Liverpool Street (Circle/Metropolitan/Hammersmith
    & City Lines)

Paper tickets will be accepted on  TfL Crossrail services:

Farringdon - Liverpool Street (Elizabeth Line)


Are there any other works happening that could affect my journey?

Engineering works are taking place on other parts of the network - such as on the Cambridge branch of the East Coast Main Line, between London and Cambridge/ Ely/ King’s Lynn for the Cambridge South Station project -– which may also impact your journeys from time to time. Always check and plan your journey before you travel at nationalrail.co.uk.

There may also be other engineering works affecting this route on other dates. Details of those will always be shown in our planned works calendar.

Accessible travel and rail replacement buses

When we provide rail replacement buses or coaches for planned disruption, we use accessible vehicles. In circumstances when this is not possible, our Assisted Travel and customer facing teams will always identify an alternative journey plan to enable disabled customers to complete their journey. More information about accessible travel and rail replacement buses can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Signalling a new era of train travel

We’re using the latest technology to deliver a next generation railway. Find out more below: