Hertford Loop Line passengers will need to make alternative travel arrangements

Engineering work on a set of points — credit Network Rail

Engineering works will force the closure of an Enfield rail line for a whole weekend next month.

Network Rail will be carrying out significant upgrades on the East Coast Main Line on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May as part of its £1.4billion East Coast Digital Programme, while other upgrades being carried out at the same time will force the closure of the Hertford Loop Line.

It means no trains will be serving Crews Hill, Gordon Hill, Enfield Chase, Grange Park, Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green, Hadley Wood or New Southgate stations on these days, with various rail replacement buses providing alternatives instead.

The engineering works include the removal of traditional signals between Moorgate and Finsbury Park stations, said to be a “significant milestone”.

This section will become Britain’s first fully ‘no signals’ commuter railway, meaning trains will operate solely with in-cab digital signalling, and not with traditional, traffic-light signals. Great Northern services already use digital signalling on this stretch, and removing the physical signals completes the transition to a fully digital railway route.

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration for the East Coast Digital Programme, said: “The testing work is another step towards the introduction of digital, in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, enabling a more reliable and greener railway. The work will also see the removal of traditional signals on a stretch of commuter railway in London, pointing the way to the next generation railway.

“We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend. We would like to thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.”

Jenny Saunders, customer service director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “The vital work this weekend will bring us yet another step closer to a digitally-signalled East Coast Main Line, which means more reliable journeys for our passengers.

“I do understand that, for this progress to be made, passengers will have to allow extra time to complete their journeys – and I’m sorry for any inconvenience or changed plans this might cause on your travels between London and Peterborough. Please do check on the Thameslink or Great Northern website before leaving to make your journey.

“We’ll have plenty of buses running to make sure you can get to your destinations – and staff on hand to help you with every step of your journey.

“The works will also mark a huge milestone on our Great Northern route between Moorgate and Finsbury Park, where traditional traffic-light style signals are being removed so our modern class 717 trains can operate using fully digital technology inside the cab.”

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