The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) is a landmark scheme that will introduce in-cab digital signalling on the southern part of the East Coast Main Line, between London King’s Cross and Grantham.
No services to and from London King’s Cross on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May
Due to digital signalling upgrade work, services on the East Coast Main Line will be significantly impacted on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May.
Journeys to and from London will take considerably longer than normal and passengers are advised to check before they travel.
How will passenger services be impacted?
LNER
LNER will be operating a reduced service starting and terminating at Peterborough. Rail replacement coaches will run between Peterborough and Bedford, where customers can join Thameslink services to London St Pancras.
NB - EMR services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be extremely busy and it is also the FA Cup Final weekend. LNER customers are strongly advised to use Thameslink services and interchange at Bedford for rail replacement services to Peterborough, and avoid travelling via Sheffield/Derby
Grand Central
Grand Central will be running a reduced train service from Sunderland to Peterborough, with coach connections to London King’s Cross. No services to and from Bradford.
Hull Trains
Hull Trains will be running a reduced train service which will divert to run to and from London St Pancras International.
Lumo
Lumo will operate a reduced service involving a non-stop rail replacement coach between London King’s Cross and Peterborough
Great Northern and Thameslink
No trains will run between:
- London and Peterborough*
- London and Royston
- Moorgate and Stevenage (via Hertford North)
A rail replacement bus service will run between:
- Peterborough and Bedford via St. Neots
- Peterborough and Hitchin
- Royston and Hitchin
- Stevenage and Finsbury Park via Hertford North
- Stevenage and St Albans City via Welwyn Garden City
- Stevenage and Luton Airport Parkway via Hitchin
- Welwyn Garden City and Finsbury Park, calling at all stations
Trains will run between:
- Royston and Cambridge/Kings Lynn
Upcoming impacts on train services
After the 17/18 May weekend, the next date of significant disruption arising from ECDP work will be Sunday 15 June.
Upcoming affected dates are listed below. This is the agreed industry plan but may be subject to alteration.
Customers are advised to plan ahead and check before they travel during these periods.
2025
Sunday 15 June
No trains between Potters Bar/Hertford North and Peterborough/Royston.
Saturday 23 August evening (2200) to Monday 25 August morning (0800)
No trains between Potters Bar/Hertford North and Peterborough/Royston
About the East Coast Digital Programme
Work on the East Coast Main Line is taking place as part of the Government-funded transformational East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), that will see state-of-the-art digital signalling introduced, providing continuous, real-time information to the driver’s cab. This is aimed at improving reliability for passengers, while also reducing emissions. The digital technology is already being used on Great Northern passenger services between Finsbury Park and Moorgate in London.
If you would like to know more about ECDP please visit the East Coast Digital Programme