Passengers warned over East Coast rail disruption

Rail passengers planning to travel on the East Coast Main Line during weekends in October have been warned of possible disruption due to work on the route.

The work, between Doncaster and Grantham, involved a major upgrade to maintain tracks and overhead wires, according to Network Rail.

Crews would be working on the line on the weekends of 5-6 October, 12-13 October and 19-20 October, a spokesperson said.

Passengers were asked by Network Rail to check timetables before travelling and to allow for longer journeys during those periods.

The result of the work would be "better, smoother and more reliable" journeys, a Network Rail spokesperson said.

Paul Rutter, Network Rail’s East Coast route director, said he wanted to thank people in advance for their understanding as the "essential railway upgrades" were carried out.

"Upgrading complex equipment like switches and crossings means we have no choice but to close sections of railway and stop trains running so engineers can quickly and safely carry out our work," he said.

Mr Rutter added that some travellers could find part of their journey would instead be made by coach, rather than on a train.

Network Rail said several operators' services would be affected while the work was being carried out:

• LNER services between London Kings Cross and Leeds/Edinburgh would run to a reduced timetable
• Other LNER services to and from Edinburgh would terminate or start at York/Newcastle
• An LNER train shuttle service would operate between Grantham and London Kings Cross, with replacement coach services operating between Grantham and Doncaster calling at Newark North Gate, Lincoln and Retford
• All Grand Central services would divert via Lincoln and an amended timetable would also be in place
• Hull Trains would run a reduced and amended timetable, with services not calling at Beverley, Cottingham, Retford or Grantham
• Meanwhile, Lumo would run an amended and reduced service between Edinburgh and Newcastle only

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