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Monday 5 Mar 2018

Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex rail passengers advised to plan ahead this Easter as Network Rail set to complete key upgrades

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Passengers travelling from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are set to benefit from major rail upgrades this Easter as Network Rail carries out a package of work over the four-day period.

Network Rail’s Team Orange will work the equivalent of 13,000 hours to carry out a package of vital improvements between Gidea Park and Forest Gate during the four day period as part of the company’s Railway Upgrade Plan:

• Nearly 4.8km of new overhead wire will be installed at a key junction in Ilford, as part of a £249m project to install a new wiring system that automatically adapts to temperature changes to reduce delays and improve reliability
• New structures that carry the overhead wires will be installed at Forest Gate in preparation for the installation of the new wiring system in that area later in the year
• In one of the largest engineering projects in the country, nine switches and crossings units and four fixed pieces of track will be installed at Gidea Park. These allow trains cross over smoothly between tracks and will improve operational flexibility and reliability
• Further work will also take place in the run up to completion of the eastern section of the Elizabeth line at the end of the year

These improvements will last for decades to come and help to provide a more reliable service to the growing numbers of passengers using the busy mainline.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “This Easter our work is focussed on future-proofing the busy main line for the growing number of passengers using it. As part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, we will continue to install the new overhead wiring system, which is crucial to improving reliability and allowing more trains to run in the future, in addition to major track improvements at Gidea Park. I would like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these important upgrades.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “Together with Network Rail we’re working hard to make the railway in East Anglia fit for future generations. We’ve got 288 buses booked and we will have extra staff working for the Easter weekend to make sure our customers can complete their journeys during this period of vital engineering works.”

A rail replacement service will run between Ingatestone / Billericay and London Liverpool Street while the work takes place. Passengers are advised to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk