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Wednesday 8 Dec 2021

Track works planned at Bishops Stortford to improve reliability for West Anglia rail passengers

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Track renewals are planned from early 2022 to reduce delays and improve reliability of rail services for passengers travelling between London and Cambridge, Stansted and Kings Lynn.

Works will take place at Bishops Stortford during some weekends in January, February, March, April, May and June and passengers are advised to check how the work will affect their journeys.

Network Rail will carry out the following works:

• Renewal of eleven points, the pieces of track that enable trains to change from one track to another
• Over half a mile of track renewal
• Re-timber and re-rail over two bridges
• Platform works at Bishops Stortford station
• Drainage works to keep the track bed in good condition

Track works like these are essential to prevent issues that cause delays. Just like road surfaces, track wears out from constant use from trains, even more so on busy main lines. Maintenance is carried out to keep the track in working order, but eventually a full replacement is required to prevent delays.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “We’re committed to improving reliability and driving down delays and cancellations for our passengers across the Anglia region. This work on the West Anglia Main Line is essential to keep the track in good condition and keep services running on time.”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said: “We have started to roll out new trains on the West Anglia route and this work will help improve punctuality and reliability along this very busy line. We would like to thank passengers for their patience while this work is carried out. We will make sure they can complete their journey, even if part of it is by rail replacement bus.”

Customers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey. E-scooters, e-bikes or full-size bikes cannot be transported on the rail replacement buses.

 

Notes to editors

 The work will take place on the following weekends in 2022:

• Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 January

Saturday- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all day (including Stansted Express);

Sunday (until 09.00)- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express). Buses also replace trains between Hertford East and Waltham Cross..

Sun- (from 09.00 until end of service)- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne (including Stansted Express).

• Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 January- Buses replace trains between Audley End and Stansted Airport & Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
• Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 January- Buses replace trains between Audley End and Stansted Airport & Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
• Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January- Buses replace trains between Audley End and Stansted Airport & Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
• Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 February- Buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express) & Hertford East and Waltham Cross. A limited train service will remain in operation between Cheshunt and Liv St via Waltham Cross and Tottenham Hale. No GA train services will serve the Southbury route. Train services will also remain in operation between Cambridge North/ Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
• Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 March- Buses replace trains between Audley End and Stansted Airport & Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
• Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all weekend.
• Good Friday 15, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April and Easter Monday 18 April- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May and Bank Holiday Monday 2 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross (including Stansted Express), and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross, all days.
• Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
• Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June- Buses replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne all weekend (including Stansted Express).
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Passengers should check how their journey will be affected by going to www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.greateranglia.co.uk