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Wednesday 20 Apr 2022

Easter track works boost reliability for Cambridge, London and Stansted rail passengers

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Network Rail completed track works over the Easter period which will make journeys to Stansted and between London and Cambridge more reliable.

Work was carried out over the four-day period as part of a larger package of work to renew track and points on this busy section of the railway. The remaining work is scheduled through May and June. The work is part of a package of improvement and includes:

• Renewal of eleven points, the pieces of track that enable trains to change from one track to another
• Over half a mile of track renewal
• Re-timber and re-rail over two bridges
• Platform works at Bishops Stortford station
• Drainage works to keep the track bed in good condition

Track works like these are essential to prevent issues that cause delays. Just like road surfaces, track wears out from constant use from trains, even more so on busy main lines. Maintenance is carried out to keep the track in working order, but eventually a full replacement is required to prevent delays.

Passengers should continue to check before they travel at weekends in May and June while the remaining work takes place.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This work is essential to improve reliability and reduce the number of delays and cancellations on this busy part of the network. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this important work to renew the track to improve reliability on this busy line.”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said: “We would like to thank customers for their patience while improvement work took place over the Easter weekend.

“Alongside Network Rail’s track work, we carried out eight days of works on the Hertford East line as part of a project to lengthen platforms at Hertford East and Ware, to make them ready for new, longer trains

“We’re in the process of rolling out new trains across our network and this work will help to further improve reliability and punctuality on the line.”

Notes to editors

Service alterations

• Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May and Bank Holiday Monday 2 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
• Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).

Passengers should check how their journey will be affected by going to www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.greateranglia.co.uk