Media centre

Tuesday 3 Jan 2017

Anglia Christmas railway upgrades completed

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

A long-standing speed restriction in place on the railway between Shenfield, Essex and Seven Kings, London during the summer can now be lifted, following completion of important railway improvement works over Christmas, benefiting all passengers travelling between Norwich and London.

Network Rail engineers worked around-the-clock for 10 days to replace 12.5km of overhead wires at Gidea Park in Essex, untangling the complex web of crossovers, and replacing it with more durable and heat-resistant wires. The new wires will not sag during the hot summer months, reducing the need for heat-related speed restrictions which have caused significant delays to train services in recent years.

Over 100,000 hours of Crossrail construction work also took place over the ten-day period to make major improvements to the railway in Essex near Brentwood and Shenfield, to pave the way for the introduction of new, quieter, more reliable electric trains for TfL Rail passengers from May. These improvements included:

• Installing over 1.5km of track
• Installing 2km of overhead wire
• Alterations to the track and sidings at Shenfield station
• Construction of a new platform at Shenfield station for future Elizabeth line services to use so that freight, fast and stopping passenger services can run without impeding each other

Passengers were thanked for their patience while the work was carried out. Particularly those traveling in this morning as there were problems powering-up the overhead lines in the Shenfield area. Engineers quickly restored power but a few services were affected as we worked to get the network back to normal. TfL Rail replacement buses were provided to help customers travelling in the very early morning.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “We have been working flat out over this 10 day period to carry out significant upgrades to the railway as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, to make journeys from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex into London more reliable. Our work to deliver a bigger and better railway for the people of Anglia will continue over the coming months, and I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience as we carry out this important work. I’d also like to thank those travelling this morning who were affected by the problems with powering-up the overhead lines at Shenfield. ”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director of Greater Anglia, said: “The festive season is one of the quietest times of the year for us so carrying out engineering works at this time causes the least amount of disruption. These upgrades are vital so that the railway in East Anglia is improved for everyone. We used over 1,000 buses to provide a rail replacement service so that all of our passengers were able to complete their journeys. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding during the works.”

Major Crossrail works being delivered by Network Rail to remodel the track and provide an extra platform at Shenfield for future Elizabeth line services will take place until late May. This means there will be no TfL Rail services between Brentwood and Shenfield during week days and weekends until late May. During this time, a frequent rail replacement bus service will run between the two stations.

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

Work continues from January to March. Passengers are advised to check on National Rail Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk, tfl.gov.uk or with the train operator. Below is a guide to some of the major changes to weekend services from January to March. The Brentwood to Shenfield closure will continue until late May. Cyclists should be aware that full-size bikes cannot be taken onto rail replacement services. Folding bikes are allowed at bus drivers' discretion.

Date	TfL Rail	Greater Anglia
Saturday 7 January		Normal rail service
Sunday 8 January	No service between Gidea Park and Shenfield (open until 23:00)	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 14 January		Normal rail service
Sunday 15 January	No service between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield**	Rail replacement  service between Ingatestone/Wickford and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 21 January		Normal rail service
Sunday 22 January	No service between Gidea Park and Shenfield (open until 23:00)	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Wickford and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 28 January		Normal rail service
Sunday 29 January		Rail replacement  service between Ingatestone/Wickford and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 4 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street***
Sunday 5 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Witham/Billericay and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 11 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacementservice between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street***
Sunday 12 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement  service between Witham/Billericay and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 18 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Wickford and London Liverpool Street***
Sunday 19 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield	Rail replacement service between Witham/Wickford and London Liverpool Street***
Saturday 25 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Witham/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and Southminster to Wickford****
Sunday 26 February	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Witham/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and Southminster to Wickford ****
Saturday 4 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool St and Southminster to Wickford ****
Sunday 5 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Witham/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool St and Southminster to Wickford ****
Saturday 11 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street****
Sunday 12 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Witham/Billericay and London Liverpool Street****
Saturday 18 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and Southminster to Wickford ****
Sunday 19 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement service between Witham/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and Southminster to Wickford ****
Saturday  25 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement  service between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and Southminster to Wickford ****
Sunday 26 March	No service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield*	Rail replacement  service between Witham/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street and Southminster to Wickford ****

The Brentwood to Shenfield closure will continue until late May. Further details of weekend closures beyond March are yet to be finalised.

Rail replacement bus services:

* A rail replacement bus service will run every 15 minutes from Chadwell Heath to Shenfield, calling at all stops, as well as Newbury Park for the Central line. Buses will also run every 15 minutes from Romford to Stratford calling at all stops except Maryland.

** Rail replacement bus services call at all affected stations

*** Rail replacement bus service will run between Witham/Ingatestone and Newbury Park (for the Central line). A rail replacement bus service will also operate between Ingatestone and Shenfield and between Billericay/Wickford and Newbury Park (for the Central line).

****Rail replacement bus service will run between Witham/Ingatestone and Newbury Park (for the Central line).