Media centre

Tuesday 18 Apr 2017

Easter rail upgrades deliver reliability boost for passengers in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Key reliability improvements have been made on the main line from Norwich to London this Easter while headway was made on a major milestone on the Crossrail project.

Network Rail’s orange army spent 5,000 hours installing 5.6km wire at Seven Kings as part of major investment to improve reliability on the busy line from Norwich to London. New, more durable, heat-resistant wires that will not sag in hot weather have been installed so that heat-related speed restrictions that delay trains in the summer can be lifted, meaning fewer delays for passengers all the way up to Norwich.

Work on the Crossrail project also continued, over 270 metres of track was renewed at Pudding Mill Lane, between Stratford and London Liverpool Street, in preparation for its connection to the Elizabeth line tunnel entrance. New signalling equipment that was installed at Shenfield during February and March was also tested ahead of the introduction of new walk-through, air-conditioned trains on the TfL Rail line from late May. Work also progressed to introduce new lifts for step free access at stations along the route including Harold Wood and Forest Gate.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “As part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, we’ve carried out a huge package of work since the start of the year, and over the Easter weekend, that will deliver a more modern and reliable railway for millions of passengers who use this line day in day out. I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience and remind those travelling over the May Bank Holidays to check ahead how their journeys will be affected while we continue this much needed investment.”

Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia, said: “We appreciate the disruption engineering causes to our customers, but we do our best to make sure they can still complete their journeys, even if part of it is by bus. Ultimately this work will result in a much better railway for all of us in East Anglia.”

Further work will take place over the May Bank Holidays to install a further 2km of new wire at Seven Kings and 3km at Brentwood and passengers are urged to check in advance how their journey will be affected.

Greater Anglia and TfL Rail passengers are reminded to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk