Media centre

Tuesday 22 Mar 2022

Essential track works to affect Cambridge and Stansted rail passengers this Easter

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Passengers travelling to Stansted and between London and Cambridge are advised to check before they travel this Easter as Network Rail carries out essential track works in the Bishops Stortford area.

A quarter of a mile of track and five sets of points have been renewed at Bishops Stortford to date, with remaining work scheduled through April, May and June, including the Easter weekend. 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.

Greater Anglia will also carry out work to extend the platforms at Hertford East as part of its project to replace its entire fleet of trains with brand new, longer ones.

Much of the network will remain free of engineering works the Easter weekend, with only first or last trains on some lines being affected by maintenance work. Passengers planning to travel very early in the morning or late at night should check if their journey will be affected.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This year, most of the network will be available for passengers to enjoy days out by rail throughout the Easter holidays. Those planning to travel on the West Anglia line and those planning to travel to Stansted should check how their journey might be affected by the works. 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: “The work will help improve punctuality and reliability along this very busy line. We would like to thank passengers for their patience while this work is carried out. We will make sure they can complete their journey, even if part of it is by rail replacement bus.”

Across the country, over 95% – will be unaffected by the engineering works taking place, there will be disruption on some routes, so passengers are urged to plan ahead.

The railway is vital to Britain’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and passengers can play a key role in boosting that recovery as they return to the network for both work and leisure.

Notes to editors

Good Friday 15 April to Easter Monday 18 April

• Due to platform extension and structural work, buses will replace trains between Hertford East and Waltham Cross all day.
  Train services will remain in operation between Cheshunt / Waltham Cross and London Liverpool Street.
• Buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross.

 

Track renewal at Bishops Stortford (April – June)

• Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all weekend.
• Good Friday 15, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April and Easter Monday 18 April- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• 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