Rail passengers in Hitchin are being warned to plan ahead this August bank holiday as major digital signalling work will cause widespread disruption on the East Coast Main Line.

There will be no train services between London King's Cross and Peterborough on Sunday 24 August, with some disruption also affecting the evening of Saturday 23 August and the morning of Monday 25 August. The disruption is due to testing as part of the East Coast Digital Programme, including work on the digitally signalled section between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin.

What this means for Hitchin travellers:

• LNER services will run a reduced timetable, starting and ending at Peterborough. Rail replacement coaches will link Peterborough to Bedford, where passengers can catch Thameslink trains to London St Pancras.
• Lumo trains will also terminate at Peterborough, with direct coach services provided between there and London King's Cross.
• Grand Central services will not run, and Hull Trains will divert to London St Pancras.
• No Thameslink or Great Northern trains will run between Potters Bar and Peterborough or Royston, or between Hertford North and Stevenage.
• On Sunday, there will be no trains between Moorgate and Finsbury Park, and most routes will rely on rail replacement buses.

Fans heading to the Arsenal v Leeds match on Saturday evening should be aware that train services will be heavily affected from 8pm, with buses replacing trains on several parts of the route and long delays expected.

The disruption also coincides with the Notting Hill Carnival in London on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 August, which may add further pressure to public transport. Train services on Monday will start later than usual, with bus replacements operating until around 9am.

Network Rail is advising passengers to avoid travel on the East Coast Main Line where possible during this time and to check all parts of their journey before setting off.

Jonathan Daniels, Head of ECDP Integration at Network Rail, said: "The testing in late August is a major step towards introducing digital in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will mean more reliable and environmentally friendly services in the future. We've planned this work to avoid the busiest travel times, and we appreciate passengers' patience."

The new digital signalling through the Welwyn to Hitchin stretch is expected to be fully operational in 2026.

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