Bedford rail passengers urged to check before travelling this weekend

This weekend and next, Network Rail will continue with work to electrify the route from London to Kettering and Corby via Bedford and have issued an amended timetable.

Saturday, February 15 and Saturday, February 22 - Line between Leicester and Bedford will be closed. During this time, no trains will run between Bedford and Leicester with coach replacement services instead.

Sunday, February 16 and Sunday, February 23 - Line between Leicester and Luton closed, meaning bus replacement services will be in operation between these areas.

February 15/16 and February 22/23 - Trains will not run between Kettering and Corby. Bus replacement services in operation.

Passengers are strongly urged to check their journey ahead of time via National Rail Enquiries or with East Midlands Railway, as there will be a reduced service in place and journey times will take longer than usual.

Gavin Crook, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said: “We’re sorry that this work can’t be done without impacting on passengers and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. I’d like to reassure passengers that we are working hard with East Midlands Railway to keep them moving, but we would urge all those planning to travel to check beforehand via National Rail Enquiries or with East Midlands Railway.”

Lisa Angus, transition and projects director for East Midlands Railway, said: “The work taking place over these two weekends in February is a crucial milestone towards completing the electrification of the line between London St Pancras and Corby.

“We are asking any passengers travelling over these weekends to check our website before they travel as their journey times will be extended and part of their journey will be via a coach replacement service."