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Passengers urged to plan ahead for railway works

Martin Heath
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Network Rail Four yellow catenary maintenance vehicles with extendable arms terminated by platforms on which people in orange hi-vis are working on overhead power lines. The vehicles are running on the railway track. There are more workers in hi-vis walking on the track. There are trees to the right and left of the lines.Network Rail
Network Rail said the work would make the line more resilient

Rail passengers were being urged to plan ahead for engineering work which will affect weekend journeys.

Network Rail said the work on the Midland Mainline, which takes place on six consecutive weekends from 21 June, will result in "significant improvements".

Intercity services will be diverted between Kettering in Northamptonshire, and Leicester, extending journey times by 45 minutes.

The project involved work to make progress on a new phase of electrification, which would allow greener "bi-mode" trains to be introduced. There would also be upgrades to the track, signal and communications equipment and drainage systems.

The firm, which owns most of the UK's rail network, added that the project's benefits would include "making the line more resilient and benefitting train performance".

Getty Images Three railway workers in orange hi-vis overalls working on railway track under floodlights. They are all wearing hard hats. One has a power tool which is creating sparks as it hits the metal of the permanent way. The others have tools which they are applying to the track.Getty Images
Work will take place on six weekends in June and July

The work programme included lowering sections of track to accommodate overhead line equipment without the need to demolish and rebuild bridges.

Network Rail said this would enable a new phase of electrification to take place between Wigston in Leicestershire and East Midlands Parkway, paving the way for a greener fleet of bi-mode trains to be introduced.

White coach with "Rail Replacement" on the route banner above the windscreen. The photo is taken at night - car headlights can be seen to the left of the bus. There is a fence to the right of the bus. There are road cones between the bus and the traffic
A replacement bus will operate between Kettering and Leicester

East Midlands Railway, which runs through Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, will operate an amended timetable and trains will not call at Market Harborough.

A connecting rail replacement bus service will operate between Kettering and Leicester, calling at Market Harborough.

Additional services will be provided on Sundays for passengers travelling by Grantham.

Philippa Cresswell with long blonde hair wearing a long beige coat. She has one leg on the step by the entrance to the coach of a train. She is standing on a train platform.
Philippa Cresswell from Network Rail said passengers should check their journeys before travelling

Philippa Cresswell, the customer experience director for East Midlands Railway, said: "We recommend customers planning to travel to or from London over six weekends between Saturday 21 June and Sunday 27 July to check their journey in advance of travelling.

"We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst Network Rail upgrade the overhead power lines to enable our bi-mode trains to run on our Intercity route in the future. This work will greatly benefit our customers with more reliable journeys to and from London."

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