Media centre

Monday 12 Aug 2019

Passengers across Anglia reminded to plan their journeys before they travel

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Passengers are reminded that the majority of the network will be open over the busy August bank holiday (Saturday 24 to Monday 26 August) however, some lines will be closed for essential engineering works.

Passengers looking to travel between Shenfield and Southend Victoria/Southminster and Fenchurch Street station and Shoeburyness are advised to plan their journeys as engineering work will be taking place on those lines and rail services will be affected.

The following improvement work will be happening across the Anglia network which runs across Norfolk and Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and north and east London:

• Upgrading the overhead wiring system and renewing the track and structures on the Southend Victoria line as part of a £46m investment. Buses will replace train services between Shenfield and Southend Victoria/Southminster from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 August inclusive

• Track renewals between Camden Road and Willesden Junction on the North London line between Sunday 25 and Monday 26 August, with buses replacing trains

• No service will operate between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction until 11:15am on Sunday 25 August due to track renewals. Customers are advised to use local buses or London Overground services.
• Overhead line work and track renewals as part of the Barking Riverside project affecting services on the c2c line between Grays and Barking via Rainham that starts on Saturday 24 August and finishes on Monday 26 August. Replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham and between Rainham and Dagenham Dock.
• Track renewals between Pitsea and Dagenham on the c2c line that start on Sunday 25 August, with buses replacing trains.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “There is never a convenient time to close parts of the railway.

“Over a bank holiday, we can do the maximum amount of work while impacting the fewest number of people. Sometimes a closure is the only way we can carry out major work like replacing track or improvements to overhead electric lines, and we always work closely with train companies to minimise disruption.

“Most of the railway network will be open as usual, only some routes will be closed, so if you are thinking about travelling please plan ahead and check with the train operator or National Rail enquiries.

“These works are essential for a more reliable service, and to make journeys better for everyone. I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “The majority of our network is free of major engineering works which is great news for travellers – especially with so many events on including Ed Sheeran in Ipswich.

“However, I would like to apologise to customers on our Southend Victoria line who are affected by engineering works in the final months of the major project to replace all of the overhead lines and structures between Southend and Shenfield.

“We know they would rather travel all the way by train, but we will make sure they are able to complete their journeys, even it part of it is by bus.”

There is also major upgrade of the East Coast mainline, with no Great Northern or Thameslink trains running between London King’s Cross and Cambridge/Peterborough. As a result, Greater Anglia services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street are likely to be busier than usual.

 Notes to editors

• Buses will replace Greater Anglia trains on all three days between Shenfield and Southend Victoria/Southminster while we continue to replace the overhead wiring system, which dates from the 1950s.
• Buses will also replace London Overground trains on Sunday and Monday between Camden Road and Kensal Rise, while we renew track on the North London line.
• There will be no c2c trains on all three days between Barking and Grays via Rainham, with buses running from Upminster. This will enable work on TfL's Barking Riverside extension project.
• Buses will also replace c2c trains on Sunday between Grays and Pitsea, while we improve the track.