No trains from Corby, Kettering or Wellingborough for next two weekends

Rail passengers from Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough need to check before they travel for the next TWO WEEKENDS as work continues on a £1.5billion scheme to electrify the route to London.

Three new substations will be tested and a new 400kV supply point installed to feed power to the railway when East Midlands Railway's new all-electric services starts running through Northamptonshire.

But that means replacement buses for passengers between Leicester and Luton at various times over the next two weekends.

There will be no EMR trains between Leicester and Bedford, nor from Corby to Kettering on both Saturdays, February 15 and 22.

And the line will also be shut from Leicester to Luton – including to and from Corby – on Sundays February 16 and 23, meaning more road connections for passengers travelling to and from London.

Passengers are strongly urged to check their journey ahead of time via National Rail Enquiries or with East Midlands Railway, as there will be a reduced service in place and journey times will take longer than usual.

Network Rail spokesman Gavin Crook said: “This is a key milestone in the Midland Main Line Upgrade and brings us one step closer to completing this vital project which will bring huge benefits to passengers.

“We’re sorry that this work can’t be done without impacting on passengers.

"We are working hard with East Midlands Railway to keep them moving, but we would urge all those planning to travel to check beforehand via National Rail Enquiries or with EMR.”

A fleet of 33 new five-car hybrid diesel-electric trains capable of travelling at 125mph are currently being built at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe factory.

They will be ready to replace the current fleet of 37-year-old HST's and Meridian units at the end of 2022.