Trains will not be able to run for 16 consecutive days while Network Rail replaces a bridge over the railway between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August.
During this time, there will be no London Overground service in either direction between Hackney Downs and Chingford.
There will also be changes to Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services between London – Hertford East, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport.
Network Rail’s project is to replace a 150-year-old bridge in Hackney that carries the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road. The bridge is in very poor condition, so it needs to be replaced to avoid an unplanned closure and keep passengers and road users moving in future. Over the 16 days, engineers will demolish the old structure and start building the new one.
In addition to the bridge replacement, railway maintenance is planned at sites up and down the Chingford line. This will include work on the track, overhead lines and signalling equipment, as well as cleaning and maintenance at stations.
Train services will be affected as follows from 20 July – 4 August inclusive:
London Overground
There will be no London Overground trains between Hackney Downs and Chingford.
This means there will be no rail service to or from Clapton, St James Street, Walthamstow Central, Wood Street, Highams Park and Chingford stations.
To help people get around, rail replacement buses will run between Hackney Downs and Chingford every 20 minutes, calling at all stations. The Victoria line will be operating between Walthamstow Central and central London and London Overground services to Enfield Town and Cheshunt will serve Bethnal Green and Hackney Downs stations. The Enfield Town and Cheshunt lines will have a revised timetable, with fewer trains running at peak times and other services retimed.
Greater Anglia and Stansted Express
On Mondays to Saturdays during this time, Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will be diverted via, and call at, Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale. On Sundays, for most of the day, Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will call at Tottenham Hale as normal.
Throughout the period, Greater Anglia trains that usually run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and finish at Stratford instead. On Sundays, these services will be reduced to run every hour.
The usual Stratford – Meridian Water shuttle services won’t run during the works, but other services will make additional stops at Lea Bridge, Northumberland Park and Meridian Water. Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford trains will also not operate, with passengers advised to use alternative services.
Trains may leave at different times than normal over the 16 days and journey times may be extended by several minutes.
Seven Sisters station
Seven Sisters station is expected to be much busier than usual, with a one-way system in operation at peak periods.
Passengers are advised to allow extra time if they need to change trains at the station.
Simon Milburn, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director, said: “Thousands of people travel under and over this bridge every day by rail and road, and our project is vital to keeping their future journeys safe and reliable. We’re sorry for the disruption this summer but we’ll be working flat out to deliver a replacement bridge that will serve the community for generations to come.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, added: “Customers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys while this work takes place. We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this essential work is carried out.”
Image credit: Network Rail
