Customers urged to check journey before travelling this Christmas as track upgrade takes place

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is asking customers to plan ahead and check their journey as they make plans to travel over the Christmas break.

EMR Intercity services will be affected over the festive period as Network Rail carries out major work to upgrade the track between St Pancras International and Kentish Town to bring smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers.

Due to these works, there will be a reduced EMR service in place between Monday, 27 December and Tuesday, 4 January. As normal, EMR will not be running services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Customers can find all the changes to services by visiting EMR’s website and customers are being asked to avoid travelling at the busiest times of the day if possible.

Customers are reminded that they must wear a face covering at all times when on the train and inside stations.

EMR has put in many measures so that passengers can travel with confidence, including more cleaners, sourcing powerful disinfectant products and purchasing new specialist cleaning equipment.

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We know that many of our passengers will be using our train services to travel around and visit family and friends over the Christmas period. Any passengers planning on travelling between Monday 27th December and Tuesday 4th January are advised to check our website and plan their journey in advance, as we will be running a reduced EMR Intercity service to and from London St Pancras.

“We would like to thank passengers for their patience whilst this crucial engineering works are taking place.”

Gary Walsh, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said: “As most people open their presents and enjoy the festivities, our teams will be taking the opportunity to make major progress on the final stages of this programme. The current slab track has served this busy line well for forty years, but we’re replacing it now to make sure trains can continue running safely and reliably for years to come.

“We can only complete this work safely when a reduced train service is running. I want to thank passengers for their continued patience and ask anyone who plans to travel over the Christmas period to check their journey, plan ahead and allow plenty of time.”

A detailed list of EMR’s services over the Christmas period can be found on its website here: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/timetables-updates/changes-to-train-times/engineering-work-takes-place-near-london-st-pancras