Final reminder to Sleaford area passengers of major service changes on the East Coast Main Line as £1.2billion upgrade continues over Christmas

People are also reminded they must follow the latest Government guidance over the Christmas period and stay at home or stay local to help tackle the spread of COVID-19.

The new restrictions also mean that people should not travel into or out of London, which is now a Tier 4 area.

Those who must travel on the East Coast Main Line should allow plenty of time as services which are running are expected to be busy. Passengers can check how their journeys will be affected by visiting eastcoastupgrade.co.uk or their train operator’s website.

Once complete, the East Coast Upgrade is expected to transform and modernise journeys between London, the North of England and Scotland with more capacity to deal with future passenger volumes.

Between Christmas Day and Wednesday December 30 (inclusive), Network Rail teams will be reconstructing, strengthening and diverting Camden Sewer, which runs beneath the railway just outside King’s Cross. This complex part of the project, which involves lifting a large section of all the tracks that serve the station, can only be carried out safely when there are no trains running in the area for six days. New overhead line equipment will also be installed, as well as work to renew some of the tracks.

Thursday December 24 - Network Rail has reduced the amount of work which will take place on Christmas Eve to enable some additional services to run on this date. However, services are expected to be very busy, so passengers should plan their journey and they will need a seat reservation.

Friday Decemnber 25 and Saturday December 26 - As usual on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, there will be no services running on the East Coast Main Line, and no alternative services will be provided.

Sunday December 27 - There will be no trains in or out of London King’s Cross. Most trains to and from the north will start and finish at Peterborough or Stevenage instead, and connecting trains will run to and from Finsbury Park or Moorgate. London Underground services will be available from both these stations

Monday December 28 to Wednesday December 30 - There will be no trains in or out of London King’s Cross. Most trains to and from the north will run to and from Peterborough or Stevenage instead, and connecting trains will run to and from St Pancras International or Moorgate. Passengers travelling north from London are advised to start their journey from St Pancras International.

Thursday December 31 to Sunday January 3 - There will be a reduced service to and from London King’s Cross. Trains are expected to be busy.

Passengers must have seat reservations on all LNER services. Grand Central will not run any services between December 25 and January 1. Hull Trains will not run between December 25 and 30.

Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s East Coast Upgrade, said: “This six-day closure from Christmas Day is essential so we can reach a major milestone on the East Coast Upgrade, which once complete, will bring a more reliable railway for passengers and help meet future demand.

“We know people will want to spend time with their families if they can, but it’s essential that people follow the Government guidance and stay at home or stay local. If you have to travel over Christmas, please check your journey and plan ahead where possible to avoid disappointment.

“We want to thank passengers for their continued patience and understanding whilst this essential work is carried out.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the route said: “Train services which are running on the East Coast Main Line over the festive period are likely to be very busy, so please only travel to or from London if you have to.

“We want to thank passengers for their continued patience as work takes place on the East Coast Upgrade, which will bring a more reliable railway for passengers.”

A vital stage of work on another East Coast Upgrade project to build a new section of railway at Werrington, north of Peterborough, is taking place over nine days in January. The new tunnel will allow slower freight services to dive under the East Coast Main Line instead of crossing it, making more space for additional passenger services.

From Saturday January 16 to Sunday 24, three of the East Coast Main Line tracks will be removed and the concrete box structure, which will carry the new lines, will be pushed into place. During this time, there will be limited services on the East Coast Main Line between Grantham and Peterborough.

Some passengers may have to complete part of their journey by rail replacement services, and people travelling to and from Scotland may additionally need to change trains at Newcastle. All passengers who need to travel are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance.