The rail operator is shutting down its route through Hendon, Mill Hill, Brent Cross and Cricklewood for engineering works

A Thameslink train at Cricklewood Station

No Thameslink trains will be serving the route through west Barnet for eight successive days over the Christmas period.

Engineering work will be taking place on the Midlands Mail Line route between Bedford and St Pancras from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th December, with stations between Harpenden in Hertfordshire and central London completely closed during this period.

The stations affected in Barnet borough are Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Brent Cross West and Cricklewood.

Rail replacement buses will be operating but these will be limited, and they are expected to be extremely busy.

The engineering work includes a programme to allow East Midlands Railway (EMR) to run its new greener fleet of bi-mode trains up to 125mph in the future, resulting in smoother and faster journeys for passengers travelling to and from the East Midlands and London.

During the nine-day period, Network Rail teams will be working to carry out a wide range of vital improvements including continuing work to upgrade the overhead lines, which power trains, between London St Pancras and Bedford, replacing the bridge deck on a road over rail bridge at Agar Grove in Camden, and installing a new bridge under the railway to provide access to Radlett Strategic Freight interchange.

A crew of around 50 maintenance workers will also be undertaking work including vegetation management, track inspections and signalling power cable and overhead power line renewals to keep the railway safe and reliable.

Jenny Saunders, customer service director for Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We know how important this time of the year is to our customers, which is why, with such a lengthy period of improvement work planned over the festive period, we want to give them as much time as possible to plan ahead.

“It really is vital to consider your options now. Thank you for your patience.”

For more information:
Visit nationalrail.co.uk/engineering-works/thameslink

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