Tuesday 26 Sep 2017
More reliable train services on the Southend Victoria line as first new overhead wires installed
- Region & Route:
- Eastern: Anglia
- | Eastern
The first new overhead wires were installed on the Southend Victoria branch line this weekend, as part of a £46m programme, meaning fewer delays and improved reliability for passengers travelling to and from London.
Network Rail engineers installed just over 1km of wire between Shenfield and Billericay. This marks the start of work to install 128km overhead wire on the whole line, and reliability will increase with every new wire installed.
The wires and structures that are currently in place form a system that is one of the oldest in the country, having been installed in the 1950s. When the weather gets hot, the old wires sag and speed restrictions have to be imposed to protect them from damage by trains. The new wires are controlled by a system of weights to keep them taut at all times, so trains can travel at their normal speed, meaning fewer delays and more reliable train services all year round.
This video shows the new wire being installed.
Engineers have been working during evenings and overnight since May this year to accelerate the programme. This has enabled engineers to install over 100 structures ready to take the new overhead wire a year earlier than would have been possible without this extra mid-week access.
Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “We recognise the issues our Southend passengers face in summer when services are delayed because of sagging overhead wires. We’re installing a new overhead wiring system to improve the reliability of train services as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and we’ve fast-tracked the work so passengers can start seeing the benefits as soon as possible. I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience while we carry out this vital upgrade to improve journeys to and from London.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “It’s great to see that Network Rail is making such good headway in improving the railway for future generations. With these new overhead wires, combined with our brand new trains coming, together we are transforming the Southend line. We know people would rather stay on the train until their destination, but during engineering works, we will always make sure that customers can complete their journeys, even if part of it is by bus.”
Work will continue mid-week to install structures between Shenfield and Wickford until 6 November and more wire will be installed over a series of weekends until the end of October. Rail replacement services will be in place and passengers are advised to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.greateranglia.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Monday to Thursday evenings
Passengers travelling between Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street after 9:30pm Monday – Thursday are advised to check before they travel. A rail replacement bus service will be in place between Shenfield and Wickford, which takes just over 30 minutes and also calls at Billericay. The last train of the night is replaced with buses from Shenfield to Southend, with a direct or stopping service departing Shenfield at 01.25. A replacement bus service will also run from Wickford to London Liverpool Street, departing at 23.27 and 23.51. Extra staff are on hand to help customers get from the train to the bus.
The work will not take place when West Ham United play at home so train services will run on those days.
A rail replacement bus service will continue to operate between Shenfield and Wickford from 22.15 between Monday and Thursday.
The last through train services will be the 21.35 Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria and the 21.30 Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street services.
From 22.15 rail replacement services will operate between Shenfield and Wickford connecting into/out of the GE Main Line services, with the exception of the following services:
- The 00.15 and 00.50 Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria services are cancelled. Passengers for Southend travel on the 00.18 Liverpool Street to Colchester and 00.46 (retimed to 00.50) Liverpool Street to Colchester between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.
- The 23.00 Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street service will operate as rail replacement from Wickford to Liverpool Street.
- The 22.56 Southminster to Liverpool Street service will be retimed to depart at 23.16 and will operate as rail replacement from Wickford to Liverpool Street.
Weekends
On the following dates a rail replacement bus service will operate between Wickford and Shenfield all day
- Saturday & Sunday 30 Sept / 1 October
- Saturday & Sunday 7/8 October
c2c ticket acceptance will also be in place
Autumn and Christmas closures for overhead wire upgrade at Ilford and Crossrail work at Stratford
Saturday, October 21, 2017 to Sunday, October 22, 2017
A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone/ Wickford and Newbury Park (London Underground) all weekend. Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/ from London Liverpool Street on both days. c2c ticket acceptance will also be offered on the Southend Branch Line.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone/ Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/ from London Liverpool Street. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations, however London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/ Billericay for bus to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
Saturday, November 4 to Sunday 5 November, 2017
A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone/ Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/ from London Liverpool Street. c2c ticket acceptance will also be offered on the Southend Branch Line. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations, however London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/ Billericay for bus to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
On Sunday, until 13.30 ALL trains terminating at Ingatestone and Billericay with onward travel by rail replacement to Newbury Park. After 13.30 on Sunday trains will terminate at Shenfield for local passengers only.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
A rail replacement service will run between Ingatestone/ Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/ from London Liverpool Street. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations, however London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/ Billericay for bus to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Until 11.25, a rail replacement bus service will run between Colchester/Billericay and Newbury Park. A train shuttle service will operate on the Braintree and Sudbury Lines, connecting into rail replacement services to Newbury Park.
After 11.25 trains will resume from Colchester to Ingatestone and a rail replacement bus service will between Ingatestone/ Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/ from London Liverpool Street on both days. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations, however London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/ Billericay for bus to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
Christmas
A rail replacement service will run between Ingatestone/ Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/ from London Liverpool Street.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - Katie Mack
Media relations manager (Anglia route)
0330 8577 132
Katie.Mack@networkrail.co.uk
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