Rail passengers are being thanked for their patience following a series of upgrades on the East Coast Main Line over the past two weekends. The planned engineering work, which impacted journeys between Peterborough and London King’s Cross, included improvements to the track, drainage, and overhead lines that power the trains.
Additionally, enabling work for under-track cabling was carried out between Biggleswade and Peterborough. This is part of the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), which aims to prepare for digital in-cab signalling. The ECDP will replace traditional lineside signals with continuous information displayed inside drivers’ cabs, promising more punctual and reliable journeys for passengers in the future.
Ricky Barsby, Network Rail head of access and integration, ECDP, said:
“We’ve taken another step towards the delivery of modern in-cab digital signalling that will enable a higher performing railway in the future.”
“With the main line shut over two weekends, the opportunity has also been taken to deliver a whole range of improvements to the track and overhead line equipment that will help ensure reliable journeys in the here and now.”
During the two weekends, significant work was successfully completed, including the investment in bridge timbers south of Finsbury Park and the upgrade of switch and crossing equipment at Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Harringay, and Wood Green. This equipment allows tracks to separate, cross, and rejoin.
Additionally, tunnel drainage work was carried out at Hadley Wood and the Barnet Tunnel, and track renewal took place at Wymondley. Improvements were also made to the overhead line equipment at Hadley Wood, between Wood Green and Hadley Wood, at Finsbury Park, and between St Neots and Huntingdon.
Image credit: Network Rail
