Digital signalling testing sees changes to Thameslink and Great Northern East Coast Main Line journeys this weekend

This upcoming August Bank Holiday weekend rail passengers are being advised to plan their journeys in advance ahead of pioneering work to test 21st century digital signalling systems on the East Coast Main Line.

The £1.4 billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme will see traditional, lineside signals replaced with signalling displayed inside drivers’ cabs, which will mean more reliable journeys and a greener railway for passengers in the future.

On Sunday 25 August, the first long-distance train will test the newly installed system between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin at high speed.

This is in preparation for trains to run on this route using digital signalling from late 2025. 

For the testing to be carried out under controlled conditions, the railway needs to be closed affecting long-distance trains in and out of London King’s Cross.

There will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains between Potters Bar, Peterborough and Royston, and between Hertford North and Stevenage on Sunday 25th August. Evening services from approximately 10pm on Saturday 24 August and early morning services on Monday 26 August, until 9am will also be affected. More information can be found here.

Instead, rail replacement buses will keep passengers on the move*, with people reminded to leave extra time for their journeys.

Long distance services on the East Coast Main Line will also be affected by the work and details can be found here.

EMR services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be extremely busy and customers are advised to use Thameslink services and interchange at Bedford.

The advice from Network Rail and train operators is to check before you travel by using www.nationalrail.co.uk or by checking train operator websites.

Ed Akers, Network Rail’s industry partnership director, ECDP, said:  “The testing work will take us a step closer to 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 resilient railway.

“We have carefully planned this work to avoid the busiest times of the August Bank Holiday weekend, and where possible passengers may be able to avoid this disruption by travelling before or after Sunday 25 August. I want to thank those passengers who will be affected for their patience and understanding of this work”.

The East Coast Digital Programme is being delivered in partnership with all train operators which operate on the East Coast Main Line to deliver the first-of-a-kind signalling project.

Chris Fowler, network operations and performance director for Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Thameslink and Great Northern trains, said:  “With no trains running on a key section of our route between London and Peterborough and Cambridge this August bank holiday, it’s essential that our customers plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time.”

The high speed European Train Control System (ETCS) testing planned for Sunday 25 August is expected to involve both a Grand Central Class 180 passenger train and a Network Rail Class 43 measurement train. 

Testing and proving will continue between Welwyn and Hitchin at various stages in the coming months, involving different trains and onboard systems.  

Much of the work will be done overnight, avoiding any impact on regular passenger services.