Rail passengers are being reminded that some services will be affected over the next four weekends as engineering work continues.

Those travelling between London and Peterborough/King’s Lynn will be affected as progress is being made on a new, more reliable digital signalling system, Govia Thameslink Railway has said.

The improvement work from Saturday, January 31, will deliver a range of benefits – including engineering and testing under the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), which replaces traditional lineside signals with real‑time, continuous information delivered directly to the driver’s cab.

The landmark scheme is set to introduce digitally signalled passenger trains on the main line and the work over the weekends will include track renewal in places and upgrades to overhead line equipment.

On January 31 and Sunday, February 1, and again on the weekend of February 7 and 8 there will be no trains between London and Peterborough/Royston. On these dates, there will be a shuttle train service between Royston and Cambridge/Ely/Lynn.

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, ECDP, said: “A significant amount of vital work is taking place over these four weekends, including further steps to introduce digital signalling to the East Coast Main Line. This investment will mean a more reliable, greener and even safer railway for the millions of people who travel on this route each year.

“As well as the progress we’re making on digital signalling, we’re also taking the opportunity to complete a wide range of essential maintenance and renewal work. We appreciate that these upgrades will affect journeys, and we’re grateful to passengers for their patience while our teams carry out this essential work.”

A spokesperson for Great Northern and Thameslink added: “We’ll be working hard to keep passengers moving while this essential work takes place. Rail replacement services and revised timetables will help people reach their destinations, and our teams will be on hand to support customers. We encourage everyone to check their journey before travelling.”

Check before you travel on the operator’s websites: www.thameslinkrailway.com, www.greatnorthernrail.com