East Midlands Railway (EMR) has advised customers to only travel “if essential” on November 28 and 29 due to major engineering works on the East Coast Main Line. The warning affects those travelling in and out of London St Pancras over the last weekend of November.
Engineering works and service changes
Digital signalling upgrades by Network Rail mean there will be no London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) trains between London King’s Cross and Peterborough. As a result, EMR services to and from King’s Cross are expected to be “extremely busy”.
The warning comes just days after a planned London Underground Tube strike, with the first walkout in a series of strikes set to take place on November 26.
Queuing systems and passenger advice
Over the last weekend in November, queuing systems are expected to be in place at London St Pancras and Sheffield railway stations. Passengers have been warned that it may not always be possible to get a seat or to get on the train they planned to take.
The rail operator, which is operated by Transport UK, added that while journey planners show the quickest route, they were “unlikely to reflect the reality due to queues at stations.” Those who have already purchased tickets and whose journey is essential should follow the journey itinerary shown on the ticket or booking confirmation. EMR tickets would not be valid on LNER rail or coach replacement services.
Alternative travel options
For those who have not yet booked a ticket and need to travel to or from London St Pancras, Thameslink trains are operating as usual over the last week of November. Customers are being advised to use the Thameslink service to Bedford and board a rail replacement coach to Peterborough from there. From Peterborough, a small number of LNER services will be in operation between the north east, Yorkshire, and Bedford.
Philippa Cresswell, EMR customer experience director, said: “These upgrades are essential for improving the reliability of the railway, but they do mean services will feel different for customers travelling on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026. Our Intercity services are expected to be extremely busy over the weekend, and customers should only travel if it's essential. They should also allow extra time for their journey, particularly at St Pancras International, where a queuing system will be in place. Customers should also consider making their journey on Friday or Monday, if possible. We also strongly encourage customers to check their journey before travelling. Customers who normally travel via LNER should continue to do so and follow any alternative travel advice provided, so we can keep everyone moving as smoothly as possible.”
