Passengers urged to check journey before travelling this Christmas

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

Although EMR is running a near normal service over Christmas, engineering works at London Kings Cross may mean EMR services are busier than usual, particularly on Sunday 27^th December.

As normal, EMR will not be running services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Passengers 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. 

As well as keeping a safe distance from other passengers and colleagues, customers are reminded that they must wear a face covering at all times when on the train and inside stations.

As part of the industry’s safer travel pledge, EMR has put in many measures so that passengers can travel with confidence, including employing the most cleaners in its history, sourcing powerful disinfectant products and purchasing new specialist cleaning equipment.

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “Our staff will be working hard over the Christmas period to make sure people can be together at what is a very important time for many families, especially in light of what a tough year it has been.

“To help the festive period go as smooth as possible we are urging our passengers to leave plenty of time to plan their journey and to follow all the safety advice that can be found online and in our stations.

“We look forward to playing our part in bringing people together this Christmas.”

A detailed list of EMR’s services over the Christmas period can be found below and on its website here: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/timetables-updates/changes-to-train-times 

Thursday 24th December

• Current weekday service, with earlier finishes
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 

Friday 25th December & Saturday 26^th December

• No services will operate

Sunday 27th December

• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 
• Corby-Kettering services extended through to St Pancras, to provide additional capacity to / from London
• Some Intercity services between St Pancras & Nottingham/Sheffield amended with additional stops at Bedford, Luton & Luton Airport Parkway
• Engineering work is taking place between Melton Mowbray and Peterborough. Rail replacement to operate between Melton Mowbray & Peterborough and Peterborough & Leicester. 

Monday 28th December

• Current weekday service
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 
• Engineering work is taking place between Melton Mowbray and Peterborough. Early morning services between Nottingham & Norwich to divert via Grantham and the East Coast Mainline. Rail replacement to operate between Melton Mowbray & Peterborough and Peterborough & Leicester. 
• Small number of amended late night / early morning trains to / from London St Pancras. Rail replacement services will operate for some journeys between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester. 

Tuesday 29th December

• Current weekday service
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 
• Small number of amended late night / early morning trains to / from London St Pancras. Rail replacement services will operate for some journeys between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester. 

Wednesday 30th December

• Current weekday service
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services
• Small number of amended late night / early morning trains to / from London St Pancras. Rail replacement services will operate for some journeys between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester. 

Thursday 31st December

• Current weekday service, with earlier finishes
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 
• Small number of amended late night / early morning trains to / from London St Pancras. Rail replacement services will operate for some journeys between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester. 

Friday 1st January

• Current weekday service, with some early morning trains not operating
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 
• Small number of amended late night / early morning trains to / from London St Pancras. Some rail replacement services will operate for some journeys between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester. 

Saturday 2^nd January

• Current Saturday service
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services 

Sunday 3^rd January

• Current Sunday service
• Kings Cross Closure due to East Coast Upgrade engineering works which will have a knock on impact to EMR services