Rail passengers are being advised to plan their journeys in advance ahead of further work taking place to test "21st century digital signalling systems" on the East Coast Main Line.

The £1.4 billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme will see traditional, lineside signals replaced with signalling displayed inside drivers' cabs.

Network Rail says this will mean "more reliable journeys and a greener railway for passengers in the future".

On Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December, further high speed testing will take place of the recently installed system between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin. 

This is part of ongoing preparations for trains to run on this route using digital signalling from late 2025.

For the testing to be carried out under controlled conditions, the railway needs to be closed affecting long-distance trains in and out of London King's Cross.

On 30 November and 1 December:

• LNER will be operating a reduced service starting and terminating at St Neots or Peterborough. Rail replacement coaches will run between St Neots and Bedford, where customers can join Thameslink or EMR services to London St Pancras.
• Hull Trains will be running a reduced train service of two trains in each direction which will divert and terminate in London St Pancras.
• Lumo will operate a reduced service involving a non-stop rail replacement coach between London King's Cross and Peterborough.
• There will be no Grand Central services.

Passengers are reminded to check before they travel and leave extra time for their journeys. 

EMR services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be extremely busy and customers are advised to use Thameslink services and interchange at Bedford for rail replacement services to St Neots.

Thameslink and Great Northern services will be running into King's Cross, but only between London and Potters Bar, with onward journeys northwards served by rail replacement buses. More information can be found here.

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail's head of access integration, ECDP, said: "The testing work is a further step towards the introduction of digital, in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will improve services for passengers and create a more reliable and greener railway.

"We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend. We thank all those affected for their patience and understanding."