Media centre

Monday 21 Mar 2005

EASTER WILL DELIVER EGG-CELLENT RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Region & Route:

| Southern

Taking advantage of the Easter bank holiday weekend, Network Rail is investing heavily in a full programme of essential engineering work across East Anglia. Jon Wiseman, Network Rail Route Director said: “Network Rail is committed to rebuilding the railway and Easter is a good opportunity as there are fewer people using the trains.  We are making full use of our resources to carry out these essential improvements, enhancing the performance of the railway in East Anglia and bringing long-term benefits to passengers.” On the East Coast main line, just under 1000 yards of new track will be installed between Potters Bar and New Barnet over the Easter weekend.  Buses will replace Wagn trains from both Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace and Welwyn Garden City between Good Friday and Easter Monday (inclusive), with intercity services diverted via the Hertford Loop. The massive programme of track renewals which is ongoing between Shenfield and Chelmsford will continue over the Easter weekend.  Engineers have been renewing track every weekend since September last year, and around 500 yards of track will be replaced this Easter.  Bus replacement services will be provided on Easter Sunday. Rail renewals will also take place at Shoeburyness station on the c2c line, where track will be replaced between all three platforms. Buses will replace trains between Shoeburyness and Southend Central on Saturday 26 March and Easter Sunday. Further track renewals will be carried out in the rail tunnels at Littlebury and Audley End, with replacement bus services between Cambridge and Stansted Airport on Easter Monday. The North London Line will benefit from both track renewals and essential maintenance work between Gospel Oak and Dalston Kingsland over the Easter weekend.  Buses will replace Silverlink Metro services between Saturday 26 March and Easter Monday (inclusive). Jon Wiseman continued: “Large scale engineering work is essential to the future of the railway.  Hundreds of dedicated railway staff will be forgoing their Easter holiday to undertake this intensive programme of engineering, helping to deliver a better railway for East Anglia.” This engineering work has been specifically programmed around the Easter holidays to ensure passengers travelling at peak times and commuters are largely unaffected.  Half as many people use trains over the holidays compared to normal travel times, on average. The work has been planned in close consultation with train operating companies to ensure passengers can complete their journeys using alternative travel arrangements.  For travel advice, passengers are advised to consult individual train operators or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk.