Network Rail will close Doncaster station to all train services on Christmas Eve 2026 to renew 11 switches and crossing units at Marshgate Junction and replace over 640 metres of track through the station. The work, starting in the early hours of 24 December, will continue through Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with train services planned to resume on 27 December.
Affected Train Services and Replacement Transport
No trains will call at or pass through Doncaster station on 24 December 2026. CrossCountry will suspend all services between Reading and Newcastle via Doncaster on that day, with no calls at Wakefield Westgate. East Midlands Railway’s 06:33 Peterborough
to Doncaster train on 24 December will terminate at Lincoln instead of Doncaster, skipping Saxilby and Gainsborough Lea Road; replacement buses will link Lincoln and Doncaster and serve those intermediate stations.
Grand Central, Hull Trains, and East Coast Lumo will not operate any services on 24 December. LNER will run limited trains between London King’s Cross and Retford/Lincoln and between York and Scotland, supplemented by replacement coaches between Newark North Gate, Doncaster, York, Retford, Leeds, and Wakefield Westgate.
Northern will suspend services on routes including Hull to Sheffield, Scunthorpe to Doncaster, Leeds to Doncaster, and Leeds (via Moorthorpe) to Sheffield
on 24 December. TransPennine Express will operate truncated services between Liverpool Lime Street and Sheffield and between Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes, with a replacement bus running between Sheffield and Scunthorpe.
No passenger trains will operate on the East Coast Main Line through Doncaster on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Birmingham New Street station will see no train services to or from 24 to 28 December due to overhead power line upgrades.
Official Statements on Disruption and Travel Advice
John Grainger, joint head of performance for LNER and Network Rail East Coast, said, “We’re sorry for the disruption these essential upgrades will cause. We’ve planned the work to take
place when fewer trains are running to minimise the impact as much as possible, and we encourage anyone travelling over the festive period to check their journey in advance with their train operator or National Rail.”
A spokesperson for the involved train operators added, “While there will be changes to services on this date, these improvements will help deliver a more reliable railway. Customers should check before they travel and allow extra time for their journey where rail replacement buses or coaches are in operation.”
Purpose and Scope of Engineering Works
The upgrades involve renewal of 11 switches and crossing units at Marshgate Junction, a critical
and busy railway junction near Doncaster station. The project also replaces over 640 metres of aging track through Doncaster, addressing assets that have reached the end of their service life. The work aims to reduce infrastructure faults and enhance the long-term reliability of train services on the East Coast Main Line, a major UK rail artery.
The scheduling over the Christmas period coincides with traditionally lower train service levels, including the days when no trains typically run on this line, to limit passenger impact.
Passenger Guidance for Travel During Disruption
Passengers using replacement bus and coach services are advised to bring only luggage that can be
carried comfortably and complies with operator limits. Transfers between train services and replacement buses or coaches may require additional time, and travelers should plan accordingly.
Travelers affected by the suspension of services are urged to check journey details with train operators or on National Rail platforms before traveling, particularly on Christmas Eve.
Future Upgrades at Marshgate Junction
The 2026 work constitutes the first phase in a two-part scheme to enhance Marshgate Junction’s infrastructure. The second phase, involving renewal of remaining switches and crossing units, is slated for completion in December 2027.
