Travel advice has been issued to Greater Anglia and Stansted Express passengers planning to use weekend train services on the West Anglia Main Line between mid-February and late March.
Network Rail will be carrying out several engineering work improvement projects over six successive weekends, which will affect rail services. Engineering works, all of which are designed to either maintain or further improve train service performance, or to enable future train service enhancements, include track renewals, renewal of the signalling system in the Cambridge area, and construction work for the new Cambridge South station. In addition, Network Rail will be renewing the switches and crossings at Broxbourne Junction. Maintenance work inside the Stansted tunnel will also take place.
Passengers travelling are advised to check before they travel. Customers can find all train times using the journey planner on the Greater Anglia website or app.
On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February, rail replacement buses will replace trains between Cambridge North and Audley End, and between Cambridge and Stansted Airport. Trains will continue to operate between Audley End and London Liverpool Street.
Over the following five weekends (22-23 February, 1-2 March, 8-9 March, 15-17 March, 22-23 March), engineering work will affect Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services on the mainline between Broxbourne and Elsenham and also on the Hertford East branch line.
In addition, passengers should also be aware that on Monday 17 March, weekend engineering work will continue for a third day between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, between Bishop’s Stortford and Broxbourne, and between Hertford East and Broxbourne.
A full rail replacement bus service will be in operation on the affected dates.
Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, said:
“This is a very busy part of our network, and it’s vital that this work is carried out to maintain punctuality and reliability, while also making the railway fit for the future.
“We would like to thank passengers in advance for their understanding while this essential work is carried out.”
Lawrence Bowman, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said:
“This is an important route for our customers, connecting London to Stansted Airport and Cambridge and we need regular access to keep the railway running well by replacing parts that get worn out.
“Our maintenance teams are planning to carry out important repairs to replace worn out sections of track to keep trains running efficiently and passengers safe by maintaining stations.
“I’d like to thank all our passengers and customers for their patience while we carry out this weekend work on the mainline.”
Key alterations to Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services over the affected dates are as follows:
Saturday 15 February & Sunday 16 February
Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will be disrupted. Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Cambridge North and Audley End, and between Cambridge and Stansted Airport. Trains will continue to operate between Audley End and London Liverpool Street.
Saturday 22 February & Sunday 23 February
Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport* and Waltham Cross, and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross. Trains will continue to operate between Cambridge and Stansted Airport and between Cheshunt and London Liverpool Street.
*On Sunday 23 February until 09:10, buses will be extended to Audley End
Saturday 1 March & Sunday 2 March
Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, and between Hertford East and Broxbourne. Trains will continue to operate between Cambridge and Stansted Airport and between Broxbourne and London Liverpool Street.
Saturday 8 March & Sunday 9 March
Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Audley End and Broxbourne, between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, and between Hertford East and Broxbourne. Trains will continue to operate between Cambridge and Audley End and between Broxbourne and London Liverpool Street.
Saturday 15 March & Sunday 16 March
Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, and between Hertford East and Broxbourne. Trains will continue to operate between Cambridge and Stansted Airport and between Broxbourne and London Liverpool Street.
Monday 17 March
Engineering work from the weekend will continue for a third day. Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, between Bishop’s Stortford and Broxbourne and between Hertford East and Broxbourne.
Saturday 22 March & Sunday 23 March
Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Audley End and Broxbourne, between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, and between Hertford East and Broxbourne. Trains will continue to operate between Cambridge and Audley End and between Broxbourne and London Liverpool Street.
Image credit: Greater Anglia
