Christmas engineering blitz delivers major upgrades on East Coast Main Line
Significant engineering work is set to be carried out along the East Coast Main Line over the Christmas period, as Network Rail pushes ahead with major upgrades as part of a wider £160 million programme of festive railway investment across the country.
Much of the work will take place while trains are not running, allowing engineers extended access to the railway. Despite this, passengers are being reminded to plan ahead and check every stage of their journey before travelling, as some services will be affected.
Among the most substantial projects is the replacement of two ageing bridge structures, alongside continued testing of newly installed digital signalling technology. These upgrades are aimed at improving safety, reliability and long-term performance on one of Britain’s busiest rail corridors.
South of Darlington, the Dalton Bank bridge deck carrying the railway over Northallerton Road will be replaced during a 60-hour possession over Christmas. Records indicate a bridge has stood at this location since around 1840, with the current structure dating back to a rebuild in 1921. After more than a century of service and subsequent modifications, the bridge has reached the end of its operational life.
The new structure has been designed to last for at least 110 years and will include additional walkways, providing safer access for inspection and maintenance of railway assets in the area.
In Doncaster, work continues on the replacement of the footbridge linking the station with the grade II-listed Denison House. The existing bridge, which provides a vital crossing over the operational railway, is being removed and replaced with a modern structure to maintain access while significantly improving safety.
Recent preparatory work has included the construction of a temporary crane pad opposite platform 8. This will allow large sections of the new bridge to be lifted into position during the Christmas shutdown, which will also be used to carry out improvements to overhead line equipment at the station.
Elsewhere on the route, further progress will be made on the East Coast Digital Programme, a £1.4 billion scheme introducing in-cab digital signalling. Test runs are planned between Welwyn and Hitchin as part of preparations for the launch of digitally signalled main line services in 2026, which are expected to deliver greener, safer and more reliable journeys.
Additional maintenance is also planned in the North East, with structural work taking place on Newcastle’s King Edward Bridge to ensure its continued safety and reliability. Upgrades to overhead line equipment are also scheduled at Heaton railway depot.
Sam MacDougall, Network Rail operations director for the East Coast route, said:
“We’re making major strides on projects up and down the East Coast Main Line this Christmas, as part of the national £130 million of investment to improve reliability and safety for passengers. These upgrades will help deliver a more resilient railway for the future. We’re grateful to passengers for their patience and encourage everyone to check before they travel.”
Image: Network Rail