Media centre

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.