Bridging the gap: a step closer to better train services in Tottenham and Edmonton: Lea.Valley.Project.Crane.

Tuesday 7 Nov 2017

Bridging the gap: a step closer to better train services in Tottenham and Edmonton

Region & Route:
Eastern: Anglia
| Eastern

Video footage has captured the removal of an old railway bridge as part of Network Rail’s £170m Lee Valley Rail programme to build a new track between Stratford and Angel Road stations. Due to be completed in 2019, the project will enable two extra trains per hour and help to boost regeneration in the boroughs of Haringey and Enfield.  

The 125 tonne bridge, which used to carry the old track over the River Lea Navigation, was successfully lifted out in one 30 metre long section last weekend. The intricate operation, overseen by Network Rail and contractors VolkerFitzpatrick, involved using a crane to lift sections of the bridge 30 metres into the air and over the existing line which was closed to passenger services over the weekend. The new bridge will be installed early next year to support the extra track and two additional trains per hour* running between Stratford and Enfield’s brand new station, Meridian Water, which will replace the existing Angel Road station.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “This milestone marks a step towards a bigger and better railway in North London as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. An extra track will enable more trains to run, improving connections to homes and jobs and supporting economic growth. We are also making improvements at Northumberland Park and Tottenham Hale stations to make it easier for passengers to access train services. I’d like to thank passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience whilst we carried out this work and also thank our people on the ground for making it a success.”

John Cox, managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick’s rail division, said: “We are excited to be working with Network Rail on this project, as part of the Anglia Route Collaboration. The VolkerFitzpatrick team worked safely and efficiently, within a 49 hour closure, to carefully breakdown and lift-out the bridge spanning 30 metres over the river. It fills me with great sense of pride to see our skilled workforce successfully delivering this key milestone for the project”.

Jamie Burles, managing director, Greater Anglia, said: “These works should provide an improved, more reliable railway for passengers on the West Anglia route. All passengers should continue to check before they travel, and we would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

The improvement work and new Meridian Water station is part of the £170m Lee Valley Rail Programme, which is jointly funded by UK Government, the Mayor of London, the London Economic Action Partnership (now known as “LEAP”), Transport for London, and Enfield and Haringey Councils.

The funding partners and Network Rail are working together to deliver benefits in the north London corridor which will improve rail services and maximise economic growth, jobs and housing opportunities. The plans will increase rail capacity on the West Anglia Main Line and accommodate proposed plans for Crossrail 2.

Notes to Editors

Notes to editors

* The programme will enable two additional trains per hour during peak times only. 

Services between Cheshunt and Liverpool Street will be affected on Saturday and Sunday every weekend until 03 December 2017. Passengers are advised to check the Greater Anglia and National Rail websites before they travel at weekends, and allow extra time for journeys.

Some weekend services will also be affected in 2018 starting from 6 January so please continue to check before you travel in the New Year.

View leaflet on weekend services between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt leaflet (PDF)

Key improvements:

  • Improvements at Tottenham Hale station include new platforms, lifts and a new accessible footbridge. Connections between London Underground and National Rail will also be improved.
  • Upgrade works at Northumberland Park station will include building an additional platform and new step-free footbridge.
  • Meridian Water station, funded by Enfield Borough Council and the Mayor of London, will provide passengers with a new concourse with ticketing facilities, step-free access and better connections to London.

About VolkerFitzpatrick
VolkerFitzpatrick is a multi-disciplinary contractor with an annual turnover of c£540 million working in the civil engineering, building, rail, waste and energy infrastructure sectors. 

Founded in 1921, the company has grown to become one of the top contractors in the UK and now employs more than 600 people. VolkerFitzpatrick’s success is based on ensuring it has a sound understanding of the client’s vision, which is then delivered on time and to budget.

VolkerFitzpatrick is part of VolkerWessels UK, a multi-disciplinary construction and civil engineering group with a turnover of c£850 million. VolkerWessels UK employs more than 2,750 staff in five operating businesses.

www.volkerfitzpatrick.co.uk      

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Media relations manager (Anglia route)
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Katie.Mack@networkrail.co.uk

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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

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