February 25, 2015 5.10 pm This story is over 108 months old

100 trains to be diverted through Lincolnshire stations for five weekends

Diverted trains: Around 100 passenger and freight trains per day will be diverted through stations including Lincoln during five weekends of East Coast Mainline maintenance works.

Around 100 passenger and freight trains per day will be diverted through stations including Lincoln during five weekends of East Coast Mainline maintenance works — leading to longer downtime at level crossings.

Network Rail say services will be directed to a diversionary route through Spalding from the East Coast Main Line for five weekends beginning February 28.

They will be re-routed through towns including Spalding, Sleaford, Lincoln, Gainsborough and Doncaster.

The maintenance works are conducted each year and the route through Lincolnshire is the recognised diversionary route for trains.

The works include:

  • Improvements to the crossover which connects the Nottingham to Lincoln line and the East Coast Main Line at Newark
  • Track improvements at Stoke Tunnel, Newark North Gate, Eaves and Barrel, Bawtry Viaduct and Essendine
  • Power supply improvements to support the introduction of the new Inter City Express fleet of trains
  • Level crossing improvements at Rossington

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Network Rail has an obligation to maintain its infrastructure and where possible provide rail diversion routes for passengers who are impacted by improvement work on the network, which is why trains are being re-routed using the established diversionary route through Spalding.

“Network Rail recognises the inconvenience that additional rail traffic may cause to motorists and members of the community.

“These are always kept to a minimum whilst balancing the need to keep everyone safe. Level crossings will be managed and monitored to make sure that barriers are activated only when necessary to protect the safety of rail and road users.

“Where more than one train is passing in a short amount of time then crossing barriers will remain down in order to prevent confusion but this will only occur when necessary.”