Major repairs are planned for the railway in Stevenage this on 24 September after the overhead line electrification (OLE) was damaged on the evening of 20 September.
Teams will work through the night to fix the OLE and get the railway back open for passengers on Sunday morning.
Since the incident, trains have been unable to run between Stevenage and Hertford North with a reduced service at Knebworth and some bus replacements in operation. Carrying out these vital repairs will allow these routes to reopen and a normal train service to resume.
To do this essential work safely, Network Rail will need to close a section of the railway along the East Coast main line at Stevenage. This means that some late night and early morning services will be cancelled.
Sarah Reid, Network Rail East Coast route director, said: “We’re very sorry for the impact this incident has had on passengers travelling through Stevenage, and I’d like to thank people for their ongoing patience.
“Some lines have reopened following damage to the overhead wires on Tuesday evening, but further repairs are needed before trains can run normally again. Our teams are focused on completing this essential work over the weekend. In the meantime, passengers should check before they travel with National Rail or their train operator’s website.”
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police, said: “At 1640 on Tuesday 20 September officers were called to Broadhall Way in Stevenage following concerns for the welfare of a man who had injured himself whilst on a bridge crossing over a main railway line.
“The man was taken by air ambulance to hospital where he continues to receive medical treatment.”
Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “I’m really sorry for the disruption our customers have been facing since this unfortunate incident. We’re doing our very best to keep people moving until the wires can be fully fixed.
“There are fewer trains running north from Knebworth and buses instead of trains between Hertford North, Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage. Please visit the Thameslink or Great Northern website for full travel advice. You can also claim Delay Repay compensation here if you’re delayed by 15 minutes or more.”
