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Thursday 11 Dec 2025

Vital Mildmay line track replacement work to continue into new year, helping to keep trains on time in future

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Following a partial closure of the London Overground Mildmay line over 11 days at Christmas, Network Rail will continue to deliver a major track replacement project over three weekends during January and February.

Work will be focused on the stretch of track between Brondesbury Park and Willesden Junction. Over Christmas, engineers will be replacing 10 sets of points, which are movable sections of track that allow trains to switch from one line to another. The points are currently in poor condition, and are held in place by deteriorating timber sleepers.

Without work being carried out, there is an increased risk of regular track faults that could cause unplanned and severe delays to passengers. The new points will be supported by more durable concrete sleepers, all built over freshly dropped ballast. Straight track in the same area will also be replaced, and engineers will take the chance to improve drainage channels and pits, minimising the potential for flooding.

Then over three weekends in January and February, after the new track has settled, engineers will come back to the site with specialist machinery to complete the installation. Meanwhile, a separate team will be replacing an additional 1.5km of worn-out straight track.

Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “We’re sorry for the extended closure at Christmas and the additional weekends in the new year, but this is a big job that will make a real positive impact for passengers in the long-term.

“The busy Mildmay line is shared with regular heavy freight trains, which means there’s more stress and strain on the track than on other parts of the network. We are installing new track that is built to last for decades to come.”

The engineering work will affect the Mildmay line as below. Passengers should check tfl.gov.uk before they travel to plan their journeys.

Thursday 25 December to Sunday 4 January inclusive

No trains will run on Christmas Day.

On Boxing Day, the only service will be a shuttle between Shepherd's Bush and Clapham Junction. Replacement buses operate between Shepherd’s Bush and Camden Road, and between Camden Road and Stratford.

From 27 December to 4 January, there will be no service between Camden Road and Richmond / Shepherd's Bush. A special train service will run between Willesden Junction and Stratford (via Queen's Park). A shuttle train will run between Shepherd’s Bush and Clapham Junction. Replacement buses operate between Camden Road and Gunnersbury.

Saturday 10 January and Sunday 11 January

No service between Gospel Oak and Richmond / Shepherd's Bush. A special train service will run between Willesden Junction and Stratford (via Queen's Park). A shuttle train will run between Shepherd’s Bush and Clapham Junction. Replacement buses operate between Camden Road and Gunnersbury.

Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February
Saturday 14 February and Sunday 15 February

On both weekends – no service between Camden Road and Richmond / Shepherd's Bush. A special train service will run between Willesden Junction and Stratford (via Queen's Park). A shuttle train will run between Shepherd’s Bush and Clapham Junction. Replacement buses operate between Camden Road and Gunnersbury (between Camden Road and Richmond on Sunday 15 February).