Media centre

Monday 23 Jan 2017

Weekend railway improvement works to bring benefits for people travelling between Norwich and London

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Passengers using Greater Anglia and TfL Rail services are reminded to check before they travel as ten weekends of important railway improvement works begin on Saturday, 4 February as Network Rail’s orange army continues to deliver its £250m programme to upgrade overhead wires, and Crossrail construction work takes place to prepare Shenfield station for future Transport for London (TfL) Elizabeth line services.

Over the ten weekends, Crossrail construction work will continue at Shenfield and at stations on the TfL Rail route, to pave the way for the introduction of new walk-through, air-conditioned, electric trains for TfL Rail passengers from May, including:

• Connecting the new platform six at Shenfield station to the existing rail network for future Elizabeth line services to use
• Altering platforms so that they are the correct height for the new trains
• Upgrading the rail junction at Shenfield so that freight, fast and stopping passenger services can run without impeding each other

Additionally, work will continue from Christmas on Network Rail’s overhead wire replacement project. Timelapse footage captured the installation of 12.5km of overhead wires at Gidea Park in Essex when Network Rail engineers worked around-the-clock for 10 days over the Christmas period.

The next set of wires is set to be replaced at Seven Kings and work over the first four weekends will focus on installing the structures that will carry the wires. New, more durable, heat-resistant wires that will not sag during the hot summer months will be installed in the following six weekends. This will enable the lifting of heat-related speed restrictions which have caused significant delays to train services when the wires get hot, meaning fewer delays for passengers all the way up to Norwich.

To make the most of the closed line, track, ballast and sleepers will be renewed at Romford to reduce maintenance and make the railway more reliable.

TfL also continue to improve stations along the route including:

• Refurbishment of the ticket halls at Brentwood and Chadwell Heath stations
• Starting work to the exterior of the station at Harold Wood, Gidea Park and Goodmayes stations
• Work to install lifts at Seven Kings, Manor Park and Maryland to improve accessibility for passengers

This type of work can only take place when the railway is closed and Greater Anglia and TfL Rail passengers are asked to check their journeys before they travel at the weekend.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “Our engineers will carry out a huge package of important work over these ten weekends as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to improve reliability, reduce delays and prepare the TfL Rail line for new trains from May. I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience and understanding while we make these improvements and ask that anyone wishing to travel at the weekend during February and March check their journeys beforehand.”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director of Greater Anglia, said: “Throughout this period of engineering works we will still be running all of our services, using about 250 rail replacement buses each weekend where the line is closed to trains, as we are committed to getting our passengers where they need to be. We have been planning these works with Network Rail for months to make sure that journeys are as smooth as possible for our customers. We are sorry that engineering works are inconvenient for passengers, but we need this work to be completed so that we can enjoy a more reliable railway in East Anglia.”

Howard Smith, Operations Director of TfL Rail and the Elizabeth line, said: “I would like to thank TfL Rail passengers for their patience during the improvement works and we continue to work closely with Network Rail to ensure alternative travel options can be arranged.

“With the first new train for the Elizabeth line entering passenger service from May TfL is making the most of the weekend closures to continue to refurbish stations along the route including work to install lifts and improve accessibility.”

Major Crossrail works being delivered by Network Rail to remodel the track and provide an extra platform at Shenfield for future Elizabeth line services will take place until late May. This means there will be no TfL Rail services between Brentwood and Shenfield until late May. During this time, a frequent rail replacement bus service will run between the two stations.

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

Work continues from February to April. Greater Anglia and TfL Rail passengers are advised to check on National Rail Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk, tfl.gov.uk or with the train operator. Below is a guide to some of the major changes to weekend services from January to March. The Brentwood to Shenfield closure will continue until late May.

Cyclists should be aware that full-size bikes cannot be taken onto rail replacement services. Folding bikes are allowed at bus drivers' discretion.

Owing to football matches at the London Stadium on Saturdays 11 February, 4 and 18 March, replacement buses are expected to be extremely busy between 12:30 and 19:30. Local rail stations, West Ham, Stratford and Newbury Park will also be busy, so please allow more time for journeys on match days.  

Date	TfL Rail	Greater Anglia
Sat 4 February	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone /Billericay and Liverpool Street station**
Sun 5 February
Sat 11 February	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone /Billericay and Liverpool Street station**
Sun 12 February		Rail replacement bus services for journeys  between Witham/Billericay and Liverpool Street station**
Sat 18 February	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Wickford and London Liverpool Street station**
Sun 19 February		Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Witham/Wickford and London Liverpool Street station**
Sat 25 February	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys between  Witham/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool station and Southminster to Wickford ***
Sun 26 February
Sat 4 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford ***
Sun 5 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sat  11 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street station**
Sun 12 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Witham/Billericay and London Liverpool Street station**
Sat 18 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford ***
Sun 19 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Witham/Southend  Victoria to London Liverpool station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sat 25 March	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys between Ingatestone/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sun 26 March		Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***
Sat 1 April	No train service between Gidea Park and Shenfield after 23:00. Replacement buses will run****	Normal Saturday service
Sun 2 April	No train service between Ilford and Shenfield before 09:00 and between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield after 09:00. Replacement buses will run****	Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Wickford and London Liverpool Street station**
Sat 8 April	No train service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will run*	Replacement buses will run for journeys  between Ingatestone/Billericay and London Liverpool Street station**
Sun 9 April		Replacement buses will run for journeys between Witham/Southend Victoria to  London Liverpool Street station and Southminster to Wickford***

 

Rail replacement bus service information

Buses will replace Tfl Rail trains between Brentwood and Shenfield until late May 2017.

* A rail replacement bus service will run every 15 minutes calling at all stops (except Liverpool Street and Maryland), as well as Newbury Park for the Central line.

** A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone or Witham/Billericay or Wickford and Newbury Park (London Underground Tube Station) calling at all stops. Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/from London Liverpool Street.

*** A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone or Witham/Southend Victoria and Newbury Park (London Underground Tube Station), and between Wickford and Southminster calling at all stops. Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to/from London Liverpool Street.

**** A rail replacement bus service will call at all affected stations.