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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 21 and Sunday 22 February.

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

Please see the full service summary below.    

On both days, no trains will run between:   

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

A limited rail replacement bus service will run between:

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

An amended train service will run between:    

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

Ticket acceptance  

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

Paper tickets will be accepted on TfL Underground and TfL bus services between: 

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

Paper tickets will be accepted on Elizabeth Line services between Farringdon and London Liverpool Street


Further closures for East Coast Digital Programme works will also take place on:

We will provide the details on these closures on this page as we get closer to each one. Details about these are shown on our planned works calendar, and on the National Rail Journey Planner.


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: