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Friday 19 Mar 2021

Planned works mean more reliable services for rail passengers in Essex and East London

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

This Easter, Network Rail begins work to improve service reliability for passengers in Essex and East London.

Over the next four years, Network Rail is investing over £80 million into replacing 50 kilometres of wire as part of work to upgrade the overhead line equipment (OLE) system from Fenchurch Street to Hornchurch and to Pitsea, along the Tilbury line.

Problems with the OLE such as power failures or extreme hot weather causing the wires to expand and sag can lead to delays to train services. These problems can be complex to resolve, requiring Network Rail to either slow down or cancel services through the area.

The upgrade work will support the wider economy as we emerge from lockdown, delivering a more reliable and sustainable system which will require less maintenance. This means less cost to the taxpayer and less disruption to passengers visiting the area in the future.

It’s not just the overhead line equipment that keeps the railway running smoothly. Just like road surfaces, track also gets worn from constant use. Network Rail's skilled teams of engineers carry out inspections and repairs regularly, but over time the track becomes so worn that a full replacement is the only option to avoid speed restrictions that cause delays and cancellations to services.

Over the next four years, Network Rail is refurbishing structures and also replacing track and points along the line from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness and along the Tilbury line. Points are moveable sections of track that guide trains from one track to another and allow them to cross paths.

Once replaced, the track and points are expected to last approximately 25 years resulting in fewer track faults, fewer closures for maintenance and increased reliability, meaning fewer delays and cancellations.

Work begins on Sunday 4 April with foundation installation for the new structures and will continue along the line until 2024. To complete the upgrades and create a more reliable railway, some weekend works will be needed, passengers are advised to check before travelling at weekends during the work.

In line with Government guidance, passengers are urged to minimise travel over the Easter bank holiday. Those who do need to travel should check in advance whether their route will be affected by the engineering works taking place at www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.c2c-online.co.uk.

Rail replacement bus services will be in operation between Upminster and Pitsea on Sunday 4 April and between Upminster and Grays on Monday 5 April. Buses will also replace train services between Southend Central and Shoeburyness from 23:55 on Monday 5 April.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “We are investing over £80 million to completely renew the track and overhead lines between London and Shoeburyness. This huge package of work will take time to complete, and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and support during this time.

This investment aims to improve reliability on this line for the benefit of passengers, freight customers, communities and the wider economy, for years to come.”

Laura McEwen, Delivery Director for c2c, said: “It’s vital that transport companies work collaboratively whenever possible to improve the passenger experience. We are working together with Network Rail to ensure the service during the Easter weekend is as reliable and dependable as our customers have come to expect. We thank our c2c customers in advance for their patience while these engineering works take place."

More information about the work Network Rail are doing in Essex and East London can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk/essex-east-london-upgrades