Great Northern engineering works 2026: Easter & May bank holidays

Good Friday - 3rd April 2026

Major disruption

• Cambridge to Kings Lynn: The line north of Cambridge will be closed for engineering works. Buses will replace trains in both directions all day.

Minor disruption

• Finsbury Park to Stevenage via Hertford North (approximately 23:50 Thursday to 04:50 Friday): Buses will replace trains between Finsbury Park and Stevenage via Hertford North due to overnight engineering works. The replacement buses won’t call at Harringay or Hornsey - if you need those stations, you can use alternative Great Northern services instead. Your paper rail ticket will also be accepted on London Buses at no extra cost.

Saturday 4th April 2026

Planning to catch the football or do a spot of shopping on Saturday along the Great Northern line? Here are the planned engineering works for this day.

Major disruption

• Cambridge to Kings Lynn: Same as on Good Friday. The line north of Cambridge will be closed for engineering works. Buses will replace trains in both directions all day.

Sunday 5th April 2026

Whether you’re settling in for an Easter Sunday roast or travelling home after the weekend, be sure to plan around the following works:

Major disruption

• Cambridge to Kings Lynn: Same as the past few days. The line north of Cambridge will be closed for engineering works. Buses will replace trains in both directions all day.

Minor disruption

• London Kings Cross / Finsbury Park to New Barnet / Welwyn Garden City / Gordon Hill (until approximately 08:30): Buses will replace trains due to early morning engineering works. The replacement buses won’t call at Harringay or Hornsey - your paper rail ticket will be accepted on London Buses at no extra cost if you need those stations. Paper rail tickets will also be accepted on the London Underground and London Buses between Kings Cross St Pancras and Finsbury Park.

Easter Monday - 6th April 2026

Major disruption

• Cambridge to Kings Lynn: Same as the past few days. The line north of Cambridge will be closed for engineering works. Buses will replace trains in both directions all day.

Minor disruption

• Harringay and Hornsey (approximately 23:30 Monday to 05:10 Tuesday): Trains towards London won’t be able to call at Harringay or Hornsey due to overnight engineering works. You can use your paper rail ticket on London Buses at no extra cost to complete your journey.
• Hatfield and Welham Green (approximately 23:10 Monday to 05:10 Tuesday): Trains towards Welwyn Garden City won’t be able to stop at Welham Green, and trains towards London won’t stop at Hatfield or Welham Green due to overnight engineering works. Replacement buses will run between Potters Bar and Welwyn Garden City to cover these stations.

Saturday 2nd May 2026

Major disruption

• Kings Lynn to Cambridge North: The line will be closed for engineering works in the Ely area. Buses will replace trains all day in both directions.

Minor disruption

• Harringay and Hornsey (until 05:15): Trains won’t be able to call at Harringay or Hornsey due to early morning engineering works. You can use your paper rail ticket on London Buses at no extra cost to complete your journey.

Sunday 3rd May 2026

Major disruption

These could add serious time to your journey, so plan ahead.

• Moorgate to Finsbury Park: No trains will run between Moorgate and Finsbury Park all day due to engineering works closing the line. Hertford North and Welwyn Garden City stopping services will be diverted to run to and from London Kings Cross instead. Your paper rail ticket will be accepted on the London Underground between Moorgate and Kings Cross St Pancras / Finsbury Park, and on London Bus route 21 between Moorgate and Drayton Park, all at no extra cost.
• Kings Lynn to Cambridge North: Same as on Saturday. The line will be closed for engineering works in the Ely area. Buses will replace trains in both directions all day.

Minor disruption

• Finsbury Park / Alexandra Palace to Stevenage via Welwyn Garden City (after 23:59): Buses will replace trains due to overnight engineering works in the Alexandra Palace area.
• Amended 22:55 Peterborough to London Kings Cross service: This train will still run, but it won’t call at Arlesey due to late night engineering works. Replacement buses will run between Biggleswade and Hitchin via Arlesey if you need that stop.

Monday 4th May 2026 - Early May Bank Holiday

For a day out on the bank holiday, you’ll find a reduced timetable across Great Northern plus rail replacement buses on certain parts of the line.

Major disruption

• Kings Lynn to Cambridge North: Same as the past few days. The line will be closed for engineering works in the Ely area. Buses will replace trains in both directions all day.

Minor disruption

• Finsbury Park / Alexandra Palace to Stevenage via Welwyn Garden City (before 05:10 and after 23:59): Buses will replace very early morning and very late night trains due to overnight engineering works in the Alexandra Palace area.
• Amended 05:12 London Kings Cross to Peterborough service: This train will still run, but it won’t call at Arlesey due to early morning engineering works. Replacement buses will run between Biggleswade and Hitchin via Arlesey if you need that stop.

Saturday 23rd May 2026

• No works planned.

Sunday 24th May 2026

• No works planned.

Monday 25th May 2026 - Late May Bank Holiday

It’s the last long weekend of the month, and Great Northern will run an amended bank holiday timetable. There’s just one late-night change to be aware of.

Major disruption

• No major disruption is planned for today.

Minor disruption

• Stevenage / Letchworth Garden City to Royston / Cambridge (approximately 23:55 Monday to 05:10 Tuesday): Buses will replace trains between Stevenage / Letchworth Garden City and Royston / Cambridge due to overnight engineering works.

Finding out your route is affected by Great Northern bank holiday engineering works doesn’t mean you have to shelve your plans. There are always contingency arrangements in place to get you from A to B - you’ll just need to allow a bit of extra time. Here’s what to expect:

• Rail replacement buses. These run instead of trains between closed sections of the route, and your train ticket is valid on them at no extra cost. You'll normally find the buses outside near the station entrance or in the car park. Of course, these take longer than the trains due to traffic on the road, so always allow for a bit of a buffer.
• Diverted services. Sometimes trains get rerouted via a different line. For example, stopping services between Hertford North and Welwyn Garden City may run to and from London King’s Cross instead of Moorgate during engineering works. Always check the route before you set off.
• Shortened services. Trains may only cover part of their usual route, as will occur over Easter. Great Northern's service to Kings Lynn will only go as far as Cambridge, with buses covering the rest.
• Amended timetables. Even where trains are running, timetables might be different from regular schedules. It's especially worth checking first and last departure times as these are most prone to changes.

A few tips to keep your journey on track:

• Leave yourself extra time; a replacement bus or diverted service can add significant time to your trip.
• Avoid tight connections at stations like Cambridge or Peterborough, where you might change to another operator. Build in a buffer so you won't have to run across the station.
• Travel earlier in the day if you can. Morning services tend to run more reliably during engineering works.
• Book your tickets once the amended timetable is confirmed so you can see exactly how long the altered journey will take before booking.
• If late services are disrupted, consider an overnight stay. Whether you’re in Cambridge or London, you’ll find plenty of hotels on Trip.com.

If you’re a regular on the Great Northern line, you’ll already know that engineering works tend to pop up in a few key areas. Here’s where to keep an eye on:

• London King’s Cross: As the main London terminus for Great Northern, any work near King’s Cross can affect services heading north towards Cambridge, Peterborough and Hertfordshire. When the station is closed, trains may start and finish at Finsbury Park instead.
• Finsbury Park: This is a major junction where Great Northern services split towards Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City and the main line north. Work around Finsbury Park can disrupt several routes at once, so it’s one of the most frequently affected spots on the network.
• The Cambridge corridor: Engineering work between London and Cambridge - particularly around the Welwyn Garden City area - can affect both stopping and fast services. Buses may replace trains on parts of the route.
• Peterborough: Services between London and Peterborough share the East Coast Main Line, so planned work on this stretch can lead to amended timetables or diversions. If you’re connecting to other operators at Peterborough, be ure to allow extra time.
• The Hertfordshire commuter routes: Stations like Hertford North, Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City are served by stopping services that can be affected by overnight or early-morning track work. This usually means buses covering the first or last services of the day.

Are Great Northern tickets valid on rail replacement buses?

Yes, your Great Northern train ticket is valid on all rail replacement buses at no extra cost. In many cases, too, your ticket will also be accepted on the London Underground and London Buses, where specified as a reasonable alternative route.

How far in advance are East Coast Main Line engineering works announced?

You'll find that engineering work with Great Northern is typically confirmed around 12 weeks in advance. It’s always worth checking a few days before you travel, as details can occasionally be updated closer to the date. Luckily, you’ll always see the latest timetables on Trip.com.

Are London King’s Cross closures common during bank holidays?

Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel?

Yes, if engineering works affect your planned journey and you’d prefer not to travel, you can usually claim a full refund on your unused ticket. Just make sure to double-check the booking policy of your ticket first.

Do engineering works usually affect Sunday services?

Yes, Sunday is the most common day for major engineering work across the network. Fewer people travel on this day, so it’s when Network Rail schedules the most significant closures. If you’re planning a journey on Easter Sunday, check the amended timetable before you set off.