Weekend of disruption expected on Midland Mainline

4 hours ago

Matthew LockwoodBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

News image — The old footbridge at Harlington station is being removed after a new one was installed

Network Rail A close up of the old footbridge which is lacking paint and is no longer fit for purpose. Engineers in orange overalls and hard hats gather on one of the platforms. — The old footbridge at Harlington station is being removed after a new one was installed

Work to remove an old footbridge over a busy section of the Midland Mainline has begun, with disruption expected until Monday.

Network Rail said the structure at Harlington station in Bedfordshire would be taken down after a new one - designed to last 120 years - opened on 9 April.

The work, part of a series of improvements, means buses are replacing Thameslink trains between Bedford and Harpenden, until 20 April.

Dan Matthews, Network Rail's operations director said: "By co-ordinating this work with other key upgrades along the route, we are keeping disruption to a minimum and helping passengers see the benefits as quickly as possible."

East Midland Railway is not running trains between Bedford and London St Pancras during this time, with a replacement bus service operating between Bedford and Hitchin.

Network Rail A close up of the new, blue footbridge at Harlington station, with the overhead cables passing underneath it. The new structure is designed to last 120 years. — Network Rail says the new footbridge at Harlington is designed to last 120 years

While services are suspended, Network Rail engineers said they would also carry out:

Track renewal at Flitwick, where five engineering trains and a tamper maintenance machine will install 642 metres of new rail, along with 2,760 tonnes of ballast and 1,008 concrete sleepers
Further work on the Access for All project at Luton station, to install an accessible footbridge and three lifts
Drainage work at Harpenden station to prevent flooding, protect the railway and support safer, more reliable services for passengers.

Adrian Gogay, infrastructure director for Thameslink, said: "I would like to apologise to customers [as] journeys are going to take longer.

"Please do plan ahead, allow more time and check the latest online before setting out - especially if you are travelling to Luton Airport."

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