Media centre

Monday 22 May 2023

REMINDER: Passengers reminded to allow extra time for rail journeys this spring bank holiday if travelling via Cambridge or Grays.

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Much of the railway network is open over the Spring bank holiday across Anglia for passengers to enjoy the many delights of the region. However, there are some engineering works taking place that may affect journeys on the West Anglia Main line and the on the Tilbury and Southend line. 

For passengers travelling via Cambridge

For those travelling on Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink and Cross Country services via Cambridge, we remind passengers to check before travelling and leave extra time to complete your journey as engineering work will affect the West Anglia main line between Cambridge, Audley End and Royston.

From Saturday 27 May to Monday 29 May, buses will replace trains between Royston and Cambridge for Great Northern and Thameslink services, and between Audley End and Cambridge for Greater Anglia and Cross Country passengers to complete their journey.

Engineers will continue preparatory work at the site of the new Cambridge South station. The new station will provide access to a growing area of high-quality employment and help relieve congestion in the local area by supporting the development of environmentally sustainable transport in Cambridge.

We’re also continuing to deliver the major re-signalling renewal programme around the Cambridge area. The Cambridge re-signalling, re-lock and re-control project (C3R) aims to deliver state-of-the-art signalling technology for the railway which means better reliability and reduced maintenance, while providing a platform ready for digital technologies such as the European Train Control System (ETCS).

Greater Anglia trains will continue to operate between Cambridge and Norwich (via Cambridge North), Ipswich and Cambridge, & Audley End and Liverpool Street.

Great Northern and Thameslink will operate a reduced number of trains between London Kings Cross, St Pancras International and Royston.

For passengers travelling via Grays on the Tilbury and Southend line

For c2c passengers, buses will also replace trains on the Rainham line between Upminster and Grays on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 May to allow our engineers to undertake track and maintenance work.

Katie Frost Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “While we have planned to keep most of the railway open for the Spring bank holiday, passengers should continue to check before travelling and leave extra time to complete their journey as important work to deliver a new station, renewals and maintenance will continue to affect some routes particularly via Cambridge and via Grays in Essex. I’d like to thank our customers and passengers for their continued patience.”

Thameslink and Great Northern Customer Services Director Jenny Saunders said: “We also thank passengers for bearing with the inconvenience while Network Rail carry out this vital work. With replacement buses connecting Cambridge and Royston, and a reduced train service between Royston and London, journeys will take longer than normal and there could be some queueing, so please plan in advance and check times before you set off.”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said: “Although there is some engineering work taking place over some weekends during May, including the upcoming bank holiday weekend, the majority of our network is open most of the time, so customers can make their train journeys as normal. 

“However, the major upgrade works taking place in the Cambridge area from 27 - 29 May, linked to the major upgrades being undertaken as part of the local re-signalling scheme and the preparatory works for Cambridge South station, mean that customers travelling across that part of our network are advised to check their journey details before they travel. A rail replacement bus service will run,  so passengers can complete their journeys, as is the case for other services affected by engineering work this May. We would like to thank customers for their patience while this work is carried out.”