A modern footbridge built to last 120 years has opened today at Harlington station, boosting safety and long-term reliability.

The old bridge will be taken down during a major programme of works on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, which will affect services between Luton and Bedford.

As part of the same package, Harlington’s overhead line equipment — previously fixed to the old bridge — will be reconfigured to run freely beneath the new structure.

Across the weekend, while much of the railway is closed, engineers will also: renew track at Flitwick using five engineering trains and a tamper to install 642 metres of new rail, 2,760 tonnes of ballast and 1,008 concrete sleepers; advance the Access for All scheme at Luton by installing an accessible footbridge and three lifts; and improve drainage at Harpenden to help prevent flooding and support more reliable services.

On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, no East Midlands Railway (EMR) services will operate between Bedford and London St Pancras. An amended timetable will run between Sheffield/Derby/Nottingham and Bedford, and between Corby and Kettering/Bedford. Rail replacement buses will link Bedford and Hitchin, with tickets accepted on Great Northern/Thameslink services between Hitchin and London.

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Thameslink services will be replaced by buses between Bedford and Harpenden. Tickets will be valid on EMR replacement buses between Bedford and Hitchin, and on Great Northern/Thameslink trains from Hitchin to London.

On Saturday 18 April, a revised service will operate between Harpenden and Brighton, and between London Bridge and Rainham. Trains between Peterborough and Horsham will additionally call at Norwood Junction, South Croydon, Purley, Earlswood and Salfords.

On Sunday 19 April, a revised service will run between Harpenden and Brighton, West Hampstead Thameslink and Three Bridges/Horsham/Sutton, and London Bridge and Rainham.

Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director, said: "The footbridge project at Harlington is nearing completion and will improve safety and reliability for many years to come. The milestone of removing the old bridge is just one part of a packed programme of improvement work on 18-19 April.

"By co-ordinating this work with other key upgrades along the route, we're keeping disruption to a minimum and helping passengers see the benefits as quickly as possible. We appreciate everyone's understanding while these important improvements take place."

Harlington station's car park, which has been partially closed during the bridge replacement, will shut completely from 10pm on Sunday 12 April until 11.59pm on Friday 24 April so contractors can set up and remove their worksite. The station will remain open; motorists are advised to use Leagrave or Luton stations, and holders of monthly, quarterly or annual permits can use those car parks at no extra cost.