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Monday 6 Mar 2017

Major improvements for East Anglia’s rail passengers as half-way point is reached in 10 weekends of upgrades

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Passengers travelling between Norwich and London will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys as the half-way mark is reached in 10 consecutive weekends of important railway upgrade work.

Since the beginning of February, Network Rail’s orange army has been carrying out three packages of work at weekends on the line between Norwich and London as part of the company’s Railway Upgrade Plan. Over the first five weekends, the following has been achieved:

• Track renewal at Romford

Journeys are now smoother and more reliable since engineers spent 4,782 hours replacing 1,300 sleepers, 6,420 tonnes of ballast and 200 tonnes of rail at Romford.

• £250m programme to upgrade the overhead wires at Seven Kings

Structures and metal work that will hold the overhead wire in place have been installed at Seven Kings ready for the installation of new, more durable, heat-resistant wires in the coming weekends. The new wire will not sag during the hot summer months and when complete heat-related speed restrictions can be lifted, meaning fewer delays for passengers all the way up to Norwich.

 

• Crossrail project at Shenfield

Work also continues on the Crossrail project at Shenfield and at stations on the TfL Rail line, to pave the way for the introduction of new walk-through, air-conditioned, electric trains from May. Over 200 new CCTV cameras have been installed between Maryland and Brentwood to help drivers of the new trains view the entire length of the platform. Between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield, 41 platforms have been modified to accommodate the new trains and ensure passengers can board and alight safely and comfortably.

In February, TfL improvement work to the exterior of the stations at Gidea Park, Harold Wood and Goodmayes began, and work to lifts at Seven Kings, Manor Park and Maryland also continued.  Work to refurbish the ticket halls at Brentwood and Chadwell Heath is nearly complete.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “We’ve made major progress in the first half of our ten weekend programme of work focussed on making key improvements to this line as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. Passengers will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys following the installation of new track and work also continues at Shenfield to allow for the new trains for TfL Rail passengers from May. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these improvements and remind them to check before they travel while we continue our work over the next five weekends and at Easter.”

Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia said: “We have booked 250 buses each weekend to make sure that our customers can complete their journeys to and from London. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to customers. We know people would rather make the whole journey by train, but these engineering works are necessary to improve the railway in East Anglia for everyone.”

Greater Anglia and TfL Rail passengers are advised to check before they travel as Network Rail continues to deliver its £250m programme to upgrade overhead wires, and Crossrail construction work takes place to prepare Shenfield station for future Transport for London (TfL) Elizabeth line services. Work is also scheduled to take place over the Easter period and May Bank Holidays.

Notes to Editors

Sat 4 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford ***
Sun 5 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sat  11 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street station**
Sun 12 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Witham/Billericay and London Liverpool Street station**
Sat 18 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford ***
Sun 19 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Witham/Southend  Victoria to London Liverpool station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sat 25 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sun 26 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sat 1 April	The last train from Liverpool Street will terminate at Gidea Park. A replacement bus will run****	Normal Saturday service
Sun 2 April	No train service between Ilford and Shenfield before 09:00 and between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield after 09:00. Replacement buses will run****	Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Wickford and London Liverpool Street station**
Sat 8 April	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street station**
Sun 9 April		Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Southend Victoria to  London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***

 

Rail replacement bus service information

Buses will replace TfL Rail trains between Brentwood and Shenfield until late May 2017.

* A rail replacement bus service will run every 15 minutes calling at all stops (except Liverpool Street and Maryland), as well as Newbury Park for the Central line.

** A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone or Witham/Billericay or Wickford and Newbury Park (London Underground Tube Station) calling at all stops. Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/from London Liverpool Street.

*** A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone or Witham/Southend Victoria and Newbury Park (London Underground Tube Station), and between Wickford and Southminster calling at all stops. Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/from London Liverpool Street.

**** A rail replacement bus service will call at all affected stations.

Service Information over Easter 2017

 

Greater Anglia, Great Eastern Line – London Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Southminster and Southend Victoria

Friday 14 April to Monday 17 April (excluding Sunday 16 April)

Replacement buses will run for journeys between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street via Newbury Park where  Greater Anglia tickets will be accepted on the Central Line between Newbury Park and Liverpool Street. A rail replacement service will also run between Wickford and Southminster.

Sunday 16 April

Replacement buses will run for journeys between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street via Newbury Park where  Greater Anglia tickets will be accepted on the Central Line between Newbury Park and Liverpool Street. A rail replacement service will also run between Wickford and Southminster.

 

TfL Rail – London Liverpool Street to Shenfield

Friday 14 April to Monday 17 April

There will be no TfL Rail service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. A rail replacement bus services will run every 15 minutes calling at all stops (except Liverpool Street and Maryland) as well as Newbury Park for the Central Line. TfL’s Easter travel page, including closure maps, is at tfl.gov.uk/easter-travel