Rail passengers in Cambridgeshire are being urged to check before they travel as major engineering works are due to take place ahead of Christmas.

Between December 11-12, a replacement bus service will run for part of the Ipswich to Peterborough route, which includes Ely and March.

This service will also run between Cambridge and Cambridge North as well as Ipswich and Cambridge.

Network Rail will also be carrying out track and ballast works which will affect services between Ipswich, Cambridge and Peterborough over that weekend.

Mike Barry, head of customer service West at Greater Anglia, said: “We apologise in advance to customers affected by these works, but we will make sure that our passengers’ journeys will go as smoothly as possible.

“We will have extra staff on hand at the station to make sure people where know to go to catch their train or bus.

“I would urge people to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys.”

Wisbech Standard: Rail passengers travelling from March may face using a replacement bus service during major rail upgrade works. Pictured is the Flying Scotsman steaming through the town's rail station.Rail passengers travelling from March may face using a replacement bus service during major rail upgrade works. Pictured is the Flying Scotsman steaming through the town's rail station. (Image: Harry Rutter)

The alternative service is due to come into place as a major upgrade to the Cambridge train depot is being completed, which is affecting all trains using Cambridge rail station.

Two trains will run per hour between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street, while one train will pass between Cambridge North and Norwich, and Cambridge to Stansted Airport.

A two-hourly Ipswich to Peterborough replacement bus will run with the same service between Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds on December 11, and between Ely and Ipswich on the Sunday.

Wisbech Standard: Rail passengers travelling from March will face using a replacement bus service during major rail upgrade works.Rail passengers travelling from March will face using a replacement bus service during major rail upgrade works. (Image: Network Rail)

The following other train services will be running:

  • One CrossCountry train per hour between Ely and Birmingham New Street

  • One Thameslink train per hour between London King’s Cross and Cambridge

  • One Thameslink train per hour between Brighton and Cambridge via St Pancras International

  • One Great Northern train per hour between Cambridge North and King's Lynn

Journeys that would normally pass through Cambridge, such as those between Ely and Royston, will be operated by rail replacement bus.

There will also be a direct rail replacement bus service between Ely and Stansted Airport.

For more information on the planned works and revised services, visit the Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway and CrossCountry websites.