St Pancras passengers told 'travel only if essential' over last November weekend

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has issued a warning to passengers travelling in and out of London St Pancras over the final weekend of November, advising them to travel "only if essential" on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, according to the London Evening Standard [1]. The disruption is linked to digital signalling upgrades being carried out by Network Rail, which will mean no London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) trains running between London King's Cross and Peterborough over the two days, the Standard reported [1]. With LNER services suspended on that stretch, EMR trains to and from King's Cross are expected to be "extremely busy", according to the report [1]. Queuing systems are expected to be in place at both London St Pancras and Sheffield railway stations to manage passenger numbers, the Standard said [1]. Passengers have been warned that it may not always be possible to get a seat or to board the specific train they had planned to take. EMR, which is operated by Transport UK, said that journey planners showing the quickest route were "unlikely to reflect the reality due to queues at stations," according to the Standard [1]. Those who have already bought tickets and whose travel is essential have been told to follow the itinerary on their ticket or booking confirmation. EMR tickets will not be valid on LNER rail or coach replacement services, the report said [1]. Passengers who have not yet booked and need to travel to or from St Pancras have been advised that Thameslink trains will operate as usual over the last week of November. The recommended alternative route involves taking Thameslink to Bedford and then boarding a rail replacement coach to Peterborough, from where a limited number of LNER services will run between the north east, Yorkshire and Bedford, according to the Standard [1]. Philippa Cresswell, EMR's customer experience director, said the upgrades "are essential for improving the reliability of the railway, but they do mean services will feel different for customers travelling on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026." She said Intercity services were expected to be "extremely busy" over the weekend and that customers should only travel if necessary, allowing extra time for their journey, particularly at St Pancras International, where the queuing system will operate. Cresswell also suggested customers consider travelling on the Friday or Monday instead where possible, and urged passengers to check their journey before setting off, according to the Standard [1]. The warning comes in the same period as a planned London Underground strike, with the first in a series of walkouts due to begin on 26 November, the Standard reported [1]. The combination of the Tube action and the East Coast Main Line works falls in the run-up to Christmas, a period typically associated with heavier rail demand. The Standard did not specify further details of the signalling upgrade works beyond confirming they are being carried out by Network Rail, and no additional operator statements beyond EMR's were included in the report [1].