Media centre

Tuesday 3 May 2016

May Day rail investment programme delivers improvements for passengers travelling between Norwich and London

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Network Rail’s orange army has replaced nearly 1,000 metres of track on the line between Norwich and London over the Bank Holiday weekend to make passenger journeys into London more reliable.

A total of 991 metres of track was replaced between Harold Wood and Brentwood to make the network safer and more reliable for the millions who rely on it every day, and structures to carry new overhead wires were put in place at Seven Kings. The new wiring will improve the reliability of the railway for passengers travelling all year round.

Network Rail also continued Crossrail construction work at Harold Wood station, to build three new lift shafts and install a bridge connection joining the lift on platform 1 to the new footbridge installed in March. Once the work is complete later this year, Harold Wood will have step free access to all platforms for the first time in its history, making journeys easier and more convenient for passengers who use wheelchairs, prams, have walking difficulties or heavy luggage.

Disruption was kept to a minimum, meaning passengers were still able to use the railway on Saturday.

Across Britain, more than 11,000 members of Network Rail’s orange army worked over the long weekend (30 April-2 May) to deliver vital elements of the company’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, and more reliable railway for passengers and businesses.

Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, Richard Schofield, said: “Our orange army have been hard at work this Bank Holiday weekend carrying out essential works as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, which will improve the reliability of train services for passengers in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex on this very busy line into London. Work also took place to prepare for the arrival of the Elizabeth Line which will transform journeys into the Capital. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while the work was carried out.”

Andrew Goodrum, customer service director for Abellio Greater Anglia, said: “We are grateful to customers for their patience and understanding while these important works were carried out. The improvements will help to deliver a better and more reliable service.”

Further work will take place over the late Bank Holiday weekend, and passengers are advised to check before they travel.

ENDS