UK Rail Disruption This Weekend Affects LNER and West Coast Routes

Rail passengers in the UK will face significant disruptions during the first weekend of November due to essential engineering work on key intercity lines. The closures will impact both the East Coast and West Midlands routes, affecting thousands of travelers.

Disruption on the East Coast Main Line

The East Coast Main Line will be closed between Doncaster and Northallerton on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2. This vital route, which connects London King’s Cross to Yorkshire, northeast England, and Scotland, typically carries a large number of passengers.

• The 62-mile stretch will result in altered services primarily offered by LNER.
• Trains will only operate from London to Doncaster and from Northallerton to Newcastle, Edinburgh, and northern Scotland.
• Passengers traveling to York will find services limited to Scarborough.

Travelers will experience extended journeys, including a two-hour rail-replacement bus between Doncaster and Darlington. This will increase the travel time from London to Edinburgh to approximately six hours.

Impact on Additional Train Operators

Other train services will also be affected:

• CrossCountry and TransPennine Express services will face disruptions.
• Grand Central will suspend all operations between London King’s Cross and Sunderland.
• Lumo will adjust its service, running only between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

West Midlands Lines Closed

In the West Midlands, services will be disrupted as all lines through Coventry are closed on the same weekend, impacting connections between London, Birmingham, and other regions.

• No trains will run between Rugby and Birmingham International.
• Rail replacement buses will operate for Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway passengers.
• Journey times between London Euston and Coventry will nearly double from 54 to 102 minutes.

Additionally, Anglo-Scottish trains will only operate to and from Birmingham International, while London to Manchester trains will incur delays due to extra stops at Watford Junction and Rugby.

Network Rail’s Statement

A spokesperson for Network Rail acknowledged the inconvenience caused by closures but emphasized their necessity for maintaining safety and operational efficiency. They noted that such work is typically planned well in advance to minimize disruption, unlike strike actions that can have immediate effects.

Despite a strike by RMT union members scheduled for November 1 being called off, many CrossCountry services will still be affected by the ongoing engineering work.

Travelers are advised to check National Rail announcements before traveling to prepare for potential delays or changes in their journeys this weekend.

Additional Closures and Information

Another line, connecting Peterborough, Ely, and Cambridge North, will also be closed for the weekend due to Network Rail activities, affecting trains bound for Stansted Airport.