• Track upgrades will keep services running fast and reliably between York and Newcastle
• Rail replacement buses between York and Newcastle on 29/30 January, 5/6 February, 12/13 February 2022
• Passengers asked to plan ahead via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator

Essential track upgrades will bring more reliable journeys between York and Newcastle from February, with rail replacement buses keeping passengers moving.

Network Rail will replace over three kilometres of track – refreshing the rails, sleepers and supporting stones – on 29/30 January, 5/6 February, and 12/13 February 2022. Trains will then be able to run more reliably, providing fast, on-time journeys.

Switches and crossings – moving sections of track that guide trains from one track to another – will also be refurbished to reduce the need for further service changes in this location.

Rail replacement buses will keep passengers moving between York and Newcastle through the three weekends of work. Those travelling with CrossCountry, Grand Central, LNER, Northern or TransPennine Express, should plan their journey in advance using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner.

Neil Henry, East Coast Operations Director for Network Rail, said: “We’re doing this work across a few weekends to keep the railway open for passengers, including key workers, through the week – and we’re packing in additional work to minimise future disruption. When complete, this vital section of the East Coast Main Line will see fewer delays, helping to provide better journeys along the whole route.”

A spokesperson for train operators on the East Coast Main Line, said: “Passengers planning to travel over these three weekends should plan their journey in advance through their train operator’s website or via National Rail Enquiries. The improved track will allow us to run trains more reliably, helping passengers get to where they need to be, on time.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Travel information

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January 2022

• CrossCountry – buses replace trains between York and Newcastle, calling at Darlington and Durham.
• TransPennine Express – there will be no train between York and Newcastle.

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 February

• CrossCountry – buses replace trains between York and Newcastle, calling at Darlington and Durham.
• Grand Central – an amended service will run between London King’s Cross and Sunderland. No Grand Central trains will call at Northallerton. Replacement buses will run between Northallerton and York, connecting with train services.
• LNER – a limited number of trains will be diverted between York and Newcastle, with extended journey times. Replacement buses will run between York and Newcastle. Trains from Lincoln will run to/from Newark and trains to/from Harrogate will run to/from Leeds.
• Northern – changes to individual journeys, with buses replacing trains for stations between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
• TransPennine Express – there will be no trains between York and Newcastle. Services between Manchester stations and Redcar Central will not call at Northallerton. Replacement buses will run between Newcastle and York.

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 February

• CrossCountry – buses replace trains between York and Newcastle, calling at Darlington and Durham.
• Grand Central – an amended service will run between London King’s Cross and Sunderland. No Grand Central trains will call at Northallerton. Replacement buses will run between Northallerton and York, connecting with train services.
• LNER – a limited number of trains will be diverted between York and Newcastle, with extended journey times. Replacement buses will run between York and Newcastle. Trains from Lincoln will run to/from Newark and trains to/from Harrogate will run to/from Leeds.
• TransPennine Express – there will be no trains between York and Newcastle. Services between Manchester stations and Redcar Central will not call at Northallerton.