ECML Easter Engineering Works?

[ashworth]

I'm travelling from Nottingham to London (via Grantham) on the afternoon of Sunday 4th April (Easter Sunday) and I notice that my train is booked to take 90 minutes between Peterborough and Kings Cross.
I just wondered what work is actually taking place and whether there is any chance of an earlier arrival in King's Cross as my train is not booked to call anywhere after Peterborough.

 

[ungreat]

Why go via Grantham?

Go to St Pancras....the works are adding ages to journies,so go to St Pancras!

 

[142094]

Guessing he may have an advance ticket for EC?

Not entirely sure what the engineering works are, but I do remember reading that some of the lines are open through the works, so I'd take a guess in saying that either trains are running at a reduced speed for safety or are running the wrong way (on bi-directional lines) which have a lower speed limit.

However I'm not familiar with the lines in that area so I'm just taking an educated guess!

 

[ashworth]

Why go via Grantham?

Go to St Pancras....the works are adding ages to journies,so go to St Pancras!

There are no direct services from Nottingham to St Pancras on that day and all journeys require a change at Leicester with many journeys via that route also up to 3 hours.

Main reason is that I have got a £10.25 AP ticket via Grantham. EMT are always very late at releasing AP tickets at weekends, especially Bank Holidays and so I booked the £10.25 fare whilst it was available. EMT have come up with nothing cheaper than £16 since then.

 

[142094]

Think there is still one direct service but it is at 9pm which is no use.

 

[philjo]

Engineering works on the junction at Hitchin all weekend.
FCC Cambridge services are replaced by buses between Letchworth & Stevenage, as are local services from Biggleswade to Stevenage.
A limited number of Peterborough services are runnning through but with reduced speed & delays of up to 30 minutes.
I think southbound services are delayed much more than northbound.

The timetable is here:

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/Documents/sun040410ptt%20final.pdf

 

[Aictos]

Fun at Hertford North with a Hertford Cruiser between Kings Cross and Hertford North calling only at Finsbury Park - why not a simple non stop service between Kings Cross and Hertford North I don't know.

A all stations service between Watton at Stone and Kings Cross.

A Express Rail Replacement Bus between Royston and Hertford North and a Rail Replacement Bus between Watton at Stone and Stevenage.

Not sure on other areas but damn happy of the extra over time going - since there's a need for extra staffing,

 

[shinkansen1966]

Oh yes, the Hitchin works are catching me out too. There's a Sunday replacement bus between Stevenage and Letchworth.

Are these Hitchin works anything to do with the Hitchin grade separated junction which Network rail are planning ?

 

[Aictos]

Oh yes, the Hitchin works are catching me out too. There's a Sunday replacement bus between Stevenage and Letchworth.

Are these Hitchin works anything to do with the Hitchin grade separated junction which Network rail are planning ?

I don't know, I know Network Rail are renewing the pointwork at Hitchin but exactly what they're doing I have no idea other then the fact that it's interesting seeing the 365s come though Hitchin with the pan down as if they were using the 3rd rail!