Work starts this weekend to move a disused signalbox at Hertford East railway station to make room for longer trains.
Greater Anglia customers are asked to check their journeys as the essential engineering work will continue for eight days between Broxbourne and Hertford East from this weekend.
Buses will replace trains along the line from Saturday 23 October to Saturday 30 October with customers also able to use their tickets on GTR trains from Hertford North station into London King’s Cross during this time.
Customers can find replacement bus times on the Greater Anglia website, as well as train times between Liverpool Street and Broxbourne, here: https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/service-alterations/broxbourne-rye-house-st-margarets-ware-and-hertford-east-8
The works will see engineers dismantle an old signalbox at Hertford East as part of the company’s new trains project.
The out-of-use grade II-listed structure at the end of the platform will be moved to the Wensleydale Railway in Yorkshire where it will be rebuilt and restored to operational use for their preserved railway.
Removing the signal box will enable Greater Anglia to lengthen platforms at the station to make room for the company’s new five-carriage Alstom-built commuter trains to run coupled together as 10 carriages at peak time.
This work will be carried out next year and Greater Anglia will keep customers informed about it.
Single five-carriage trains have been running to Hertford East since August this year.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This work is essential so that we can run our new longer trains along this line.
“We will make sure that all customers can complete their journeys, whether it is by bus or using GTR’s train service from Hertford North.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause people using this service.”
Greater Anglia’s new trains are longer with more seats, USB and plug points, fast free wifi, air conditioning, improved accessibility features including an accessible toilet on every train, better passenger information screens and dedicated cycle spaces.
The trains are the first in the UK to have underfloor heating which works with an overhead heating and ventilation system to improve passenger comfort and increase foot room for passengers sitting in window seats.
They feature regenerative braking which delivers energy back into the electrical supply network, rather than wasting the energy through heat, as is the case with conventional systems.
Lead photo – One of Greater Anglia’s new trains at Hertford East next to the disused signal box. Credit: Greater Anglia
