Leicester To Kettering Rail Works To Disrupt Passengers Over Two Weekends

Passengers travelling through Leicester, Kettering and Market Harborough are being warned to plan ahead as railway upgrade work affects services over the next two weekends.

The disruption will take place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, and again on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June, while Network Rail carries out improvement work on the route between Leicester and Kettering.

The programme includes drainage renewal at Great Bowden and the replacement of a switch and crossing at Leicester South Junction. A switch and crossing is the section of railway that allows trains to move from one line to another.

CrossCountry services will be affected across both weekends, with buses replacing trains between Birmingham and Leicester.

East Midlands Railway will run one train per hour between Nottingham or Sheffield and London St Pancras. Rail replacement buses will also operate between Kettering and Leicester, calling at Market Harborough.

At Great Bowden, Network Rail will renew more than 200 metres of drainage to reduce the risk of flooding and help protect the railway. An under-track crossing, which allows utilities to pass safely beneath the line, will also be upgraded as part of the work.

The track work at Leicester South Junction will see life-expired switch and crossing equipment replaced. Network Rail says the renewal is intended to improve reliability, reduce future faults and cut down on maintenance needs.

Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director, said:

“This work between Leicester and Kettering is vital to keeping the railway safe and reliable for passengers and freight. By renewing drainage at Great Bowden and replacing track components at Leicester South Junction, we’re reducing the risk of flooding, improving reliability and cutting down on future maintenance. We’re sorry to anyone whose journey is affected, and we thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these important upgrades.”

A spokesperson for CrossCountry and EMR said:

“We’re working together to keep customers moving while Network Rail carries out these important upgrades. During the work, some services will be amended and rail replacement buses will be in operation, so we strongly encourage customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Image: Network Rail