Rail changes between King's Lynn, Cambridge and London for track repairs

Network Rail has issued the following press release:

Changes are being introduced for the next two weeks on the rail route between King's Lynn, Cambridge and London King's Cross to give rail passengers more robust services while Network Rail repairs track defects caused by the recent heatwave.

The prolonged spell of dry weather has caused the ground beneath the track along the Fen Line between Cambridge and King's Lynn to shrink, affecting the track above.

Network Rail has introduced speed restrictions to allow a rail service to run safely and to prevent further damage to the track. These speed restrictions are adding up to 30 minutes’ delay on services to and from London and is causing knock-on delays across the Great Northern and Thameslink network.

To repair the faults, the track will be re-align using an engineering train.

This weekend (Saturday 3 September) the following changes will be introduced:

• London King's Cross to King's Lynn services will between King's Lynn and Cambridge only
• London King's Cross to Ely services will not run

These changes are likely to continue until at least 18 September although it may be possible to run some additional services to and from Ely. Details will be confirmed in the coming days.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “We have introduced speed restrictions on the Fen Line because of track defects caused by the ground drying out beneath the track during the dry weather. Speed restrictions will prevent further damage and allow a service to operate while we work to carry out the repairs. I am very sorry for the delays and thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these repairs.”

Great Northern and Thameslink Customer Services Director Jenny Saunders said: "We're sorry we have to change our rail service between Kings Lynn, Cambridge and London but it is absolutely essential to ensure the continued safe running of our trains and to give our customers a dependable service, especially now that the schools are back.

"Some of our trains between London and Cambridge or Ely won't run which will make other services busier, and passengers for stations along the route to King's Lynn will have to change at Cambridge until the direct service can be restored."

For more information, passengers should see www.greatnorthernrail.com.

Ends

Editors' notes

Although the track defects and speed restrictions are on the stretch between King's Lynn and Cambridge, this affects the trains beyond Cambridge, to London. By splitting them off to run between King's Lynn and Cambridge only, the services will run more reliably. However, this will reduce the number of trains running between Cambridge and London. There are not enough trains and drivers to maintain both.