Thameslink rail passengers have been warned to allow up to 75 minutes longer to travel during a weekend of Network Rail engineering work.

The multi-million pound investment programme includes new sidings at Cricklewood for Thameslink’s replacement fleet of trains arriving next year and upgrades to sections of railway track, signalling and overhead power supplies.

Buses will replace trains between St Albans City station and St Pancras International from 11.15pm on Friday, June 19 until the start of service on Monday, June 22.

In addition, on Sunday, June 21 until 9.30am, these buses will be extended to run between St Pancras International and Harpenden.

Thameslink trains will run from St Pancras International for Gatwick and Brighton but there will be rail replacement buses between Tulse Hill and Sutton via Mitcham Junction because of further engineering work in that area.

Roger Perkins for Thameslink said: "We know this work will inconvenience many passengers over this weekend but the long-term benefits it will help deliver will be significant, not least a stabling and cleaning facility for the new fleet of Thameslink trains that we will introduce next year.

"There are alternatives in place for our trains south of St Albans and I would urge passengers to check before they travel and to allow longer for their journeys."

Thameslink plan to run a mix of non-stop and 'all stations' buses between St Albans City and St Pancras International leaving every 15 minutes. 

The Ridgmont Road car park will be closed from approximately 4pm on Friday, June 19 until 6am on Monday, June 22, to enable the car park and the private section of Ridgmont Road to be used by buses arriving from London.

For passengers heading to London by bus from St Albans the buses will leave from bus stands C and D in the bus interchange at the front of the station.

Passengers who have a permit to park in Ridgmont Road car park can use that permit to park in the Station Way car park.

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