Media centre

Tuesday 1 Aug 2017

Extra track to be installed in Lee Valley this autumn for a bigger and better railway

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Work to build a new track between Stratford and Angel Road is being stepped up this autumn as part of the £170m Lee Valley Rail Programme to increase services and boost local regeneration.  Network Rail and Greater Anglia are urging passengers traveling between Cheshunt and London Liverpool Street to check before they travel at weekends as trains are diverted to allow the orange army to get to work.

Trains will run, but will be diverted via Seven Sisters every weekend from Saturday 2 September until Sunday 3 December. Once complete, the extra track will enable two additional trains per hour. Improvements will also be made at Northumberland Park and Tottenham Hale stations to improve access for passengers.

Network Rail will carry out the following work as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan:

• Strengthening the River Lea rail bridge near Tottenham Hale to support the new third track
• Installing foundations for the new overhead line structures to provide power for trains using the third track
• Installing foundations for the new island platform and footbridge at Tottenham Hale station to help people move around the station easier
• Installing foundations for a new island platform at Northumberland Park to allow access to trains that will use the new track
• To make the most of the closure, track will also be renewed near Lea Bridge station as part of the track renewals programme

The work is part of the £170m Lee Valley Rail Programme, which is jointly funded by UK Government, the London Local Enterprise Partnership (now known as “LEAP”), Transport for London and Enfield Council.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “We are creating 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 for their patience while we carry out this work and urge people to plan ahead before travelling.”

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 check before they travel, and we would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

 

UK Government, LEAP, the Mayor of London, Transport for London, local authorities 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.