Rail passengers are being advised to check before they travel over the next two weekends as multi-million-pound Midland Main Line upgrades continue.

Over the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September and Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, engineers will be working to upgrade existing overhead lines which power trains and track south of Bedford.

Work will also see the installation of new switches and crosses south of Bedford, the specialist equipment used by trains to cross from one track to another.

The South of Bedford upgrade is part of a wider scheme to improve the Midland Main Line to allow East Midlands Railway (EMR) to run its new fleet of electric trains up to 125mph in the future.

Once the scheme is fully complete, passengers can expect more reliable, faster, and quieter journeys as the travel along the route.

Separate to the Midland Main Line work, teams will be upgrading track in preparation for the Agar Grove bridge project and carrying out drainage work between Radlett and Agar Grove.

The latest upgrades will see changes to journeys over the next two weekends and passengers are being advised to plan ahead by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk or via their train operator.

Gavin Crook, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail’s East Midlands route said: “This work will allow our teams to complete upgrades south of Bedford as part of the wider Midland Main Line scheme to bring passengers more reliable journeys.

“Upgrading track for the Agar Grove bridge project is an essential step ahead of the main bridge construction later in the year.

"We encourage customers to plan ahead with their journeys so they are up to date with the latest information, and we would like to thank passengers for their continued patience.”