Weekend disruption to train services south of Leicester

Next weekend, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August, there will be no trains between Leicester and Kettering and Leicester and Nuneaton due to major engineering works worth over £5 million.

Network Rail will replace a key set of switches and crossings at Knighton Junction, south of Leicester station, to improve service reliability. In the past, Network Rail teams have often had to carry out work on the site due to its curved layout. However, in addition to the equipment being refurbished, further reinforcement measures will be taken to protect other components, extending their lifespan.

Knighton Junction is an essential junction for trains travelling north–south on the Midland Main Line, and trains travelling east–west between East Anglia and Birmingham. It is heavily used by freight trains.

Some of the work on the project has already been done, and this weekend’s work is to complete the remaining tasks.

In addition to the work at Knighton junction, additional engineering work is scheduled to be carried out on new overhead lines recently installed and energised between Kettering and Wigston.

The engineering works will require changes to train services in the area, with train replacement bus services operating in their place.

Service changes on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August

• The Midland Main Line will be closed between Leicester and Kettering.
• A reduced East Midlands Railway service will operate from Sheffield/Nottingham to London St Pancras, with diversions between Leicester and Kettering in both directions.
• Buses will replace trains on services between Leicester, Market Harborough and Kettering.
• There will be no CrossCountry services between Nuneaton and Leicester.
• Buses will replace trains between Nuneaton, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston and Leicester, where passengers can connect to rail.

To find out more about how Network Rail looks after Britain’s railway tracks, click here.

Further south, there will be a ten-day disruption to services in the Birmingham area at the end of August due to HS2 works.

We are constantly striving to improve our rail network and make journeys better for our passengers. The work we are undertaking at Knighton Junction is a major investment in making the rail network in that area more resilient and reliable.

I know that carrying out engineering work can be disruptive to passengers and I would like to thank them in advance for their patience and understanding whilst we carry out this work.

I recommend that all passengers check their journeys before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk or via their train operator.

Tara Scott, Infrastructure Director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route