Some train services from King’s Cross station have been cancelled so that testing for a new signalling system can take place.

Long-distance trains will not run from the central London station on November 30 and December 1.

Network Rail has said this is so that testing of in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line – a project expected to cost £1.4 billion – can take place.

It is hoped that the technology will allow for lineside signals to be replaced with signalling displayed inside drivers’ cabs from the end of 2025.

Six train operators are expected to be directly impacted by the works.

East Midland Railways (EMR) passengers have also been warned that services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be “extremely busy”.

Passengers have been urged to use Thameslink services and interchange at Bedford for rail replacement services to St Neots.

Over the two days of works, LNER will be operating a reduced service starting and terminating at St Neots or Peterborough.

Rail replacement coaches will run between St Neots and Bedford, where customers can join Thameslink or EMR services to London St Pancras.

Hull Trains will be running a reduced train service of two trains in each direction which will divert and terminate in London St Pancras.

Lumo will operate a reduced service involving a non-stop rail replacement coach between London King’s Cross and Peterborough.

There will be no Grand Central services.

Thameslink and Great Northern services will be running into King's Cross, but only between London and Potters Bar, with onward journeys northwards served by rail replacement buses.

Ricky Barsby, Network Rail’s head of access integration, said: “The testing work is a further step towards the introduction of digital, in-cab signalling on the East Coast Main Line, which will improve services for passengers and create a more reliable and greener railway.

“We recognise the work will lead to journeys taking longer over that weekend.  We thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.”

The tests at the end of this month are understood to involve both a Grand Central passenger train and a Great Northern commuter train.

Overnight testing of the system between Welwyn and Hitchin is expected to continue overnight in subsequent months with different trains.