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Wednesday 15 Jan 2025

Vital track and bridge works to affect Mildmay line on weekends this winter

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Passengers on the London Overground Mildmay line, which runs between Stratford and Richmond/Clapham Junction, are being asked to check for closures on part of the route over upcoming weekends.

The closures will allow Network Rail to replace 675 metres of worn-out track near Stratford, which will involve installing brand-new rails, sleepers and ballast. There is a lot of wear and tear on the section of track being replaced because it is intensively used by heavy freight trains. The track replacement work will reduce the chance of faults in future that could have a major knock-on effect on passenger services.

Engineers will also be replacing 20 wheel timbers on a bridge that carries the railway over Chalk Farm Road to the west of Camden Road station. Wheel timbers are used to hold the rails in place across certain types of bridge and they gradually deteriorate over time. The new wheel timbers being installed are made of a more durable material that should last up to 50 years.

While these works are taking place, Network Rail will be carrying out additional targeted maintenance along the Mildmay line that will help to minimise delays to services during 2025 and beyond. This will include:

• Replacing points (which allow trains to change tracks) near Stratford
• Fixing track defects between Camden Road and Stratford
• Fixing overhead line defects between Camden Road and Stratford, with a focus on Canonbury
• Using tamping machines on several stretches of route to rearrange the ballast and restore the line and level of the track

Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “We’re really sorry for the disruption, but there are lots of vital jobs that we simply can’t get done whilst trains are running. We’ll be making the very most of our time on track to help keep this part of the railway safe and reliable.”

Rory O’Neill, TfL’s General Manager for London Overground, said: “This maintenance work is vital to ensure we can continue to operate the most reliable possible service for customers. I would like to apologise to our customers for the disruption and ask them to check before they travel and allow a little extra time to complete their journeys.”

The closures on the Mildmay line to complete these engineering works will be as follows:

• Sunday 19 January: No service between Gospel Oak and Stratford. Also no service between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction
• Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January: No service between Gospel Oak and Stratford
• Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February: No service between Gospel Oak and Stratford
• Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February: No service between Camden Road and Stratford on the Saturday. No service between Gospel Oak and Stratford on the Sunday.
• Sunday 16 February: No service between Camden Road and Stratford
• Sunday 30 March: No service between Camden Road and Stratford

Rail replacement buses will operate. Check tfl.gov.uk for more details.