A series of weekend engineering work is ongoing on the Midland Main Line.

Passengers are being reminded that London journeys will continue to be affected by the work

Journeys are taking longer than usual while Network Rail carries out the planned upgrades between Kettering and Leicester.

During the work, engineers will be upgrading the track, drainage systems and signal and communication equipment.

They will also be progressing on the electrification work between Wigston in Leicestershire and East Midlands Parkway to allow for East Midlands Railway’s greener fleet of bi-mode trains.

Network Rail will be lowering sections of track near bridges to allow for overhead line equipment to be installed without the need to rebuild the bridges.

They have also set up a compound ahead of the demolition of a bridge at Sutton Bonnington, Nottinghamshire, for the same purpose.

Ahead of other work, Network Rail has been carrying out surveys and ground investigations so that plans can go ahead.

Rail replacement buses will be in place of CrossCountry services between Nuneaton and Leicester on the 19th and 20th July and 26th and 27th July.

The track renewal and drainage work will mean that CrossCountry services between Leicester and Peterborough will be replaced by buses on the 2nd and 3rd August.

“We’re grateful to passengers for their understanding as we carry out these vital improvements. We’ve made strong progress over the first few weekends, helping the efforts to make the railway more reliable and sustainable.

“We know the disruption caused by these important upgrades will frustrate some passengers, but the long-term benefits will be significant.

“We’re sorry that journeys will take longer than usual while the work is taking place, but these improvements will contribute to a more efficient railway with greener, smoother journeys in the future.”

Gavin Crook, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail