Passengers who need to travel into London from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex over Easter are urged to check their journeys in advance as Network Rail plans to carry out major upgrades to improve reliability on the busy main line and Southend branch lines.
Work will take place over the Easter weekend between Friday 2 to Monday 5 April. In line with Government guidance, passengers are urged to minimise travel over the Easter bank holiday, and those who do need to travel should check in advance whether their route will be affected by the engineering works taking place. The work will involve:
Great Eastern main line (Norwich – London Liverpool Street)
- Installing new overhead wire, structures and steel work at Stratford as part of works to upgrade the overhead wiring system. The new system automatically tightens the wires when they sag in hot weather, preventing the need for speed restrictions that cause delays and cancellations.
- Replacing two point-ends, which form part of the switches and crossings units that allow trains to switch lines Gidea Park. As part of this work, 300 metres of track will also be replaced. This will prevent delays and cancellations caused by track issues.
- Track maintenance works between Harold Wood and Stratford, and maintenance works at Liverpool Street to keep services running safely and reliably.
Southend Victoria branch line (Southend Victoria – London Liverpool Street)
- Overhead line, track maintenance and earthworks between Billericay and Southend Victoria to keep the services running safely and reliably.
c2c line (London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness)
- Work between Grays and Pitsea as part of a wider programme to upgrade the overhead wiring system to prevent delays and cancellations when wires sag in hot weather.
TfL Rail lines (Shenfield to London Liverpool Street)
- Work continues to extend platforms 16 and 17 at Liverpool Street, in preparation for the full-length Elizabeth line trains which are planned to be introduced later this year.
- Additional work to the overhead lines and signalling systems will also take place at Liverpool Street station.
Follow up works will take place on the following weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April, along track renewals at Billericay and footbridge strengthening works at Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Brentwood. Some preparatory works will also take place the weekend before, on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March.
Rail replacement services will run throughout and passengers who need to travel are advised to check beforehand.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director said: “We’re carrying out vital upgrades to the main line this Easter in order to improve reliability, which means fewer delays and cancellations for passengers. I’d like to remind passengers who do need to travel over Easter to check before they travel while the work is carried out.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This work will help to improve punctuality and performance along these vital parts of the network.
“We will be running a rail replacement bus service while the work takes place so customers will be able to complete their journeys. Passengers should check before they travel, allow more time for their journey and wear a face covering when travelling by train or rail replacement bus and at our stations.
“Government travel guidance for Easter is to minimise journeys and avoid travelling at busy times and on the busiest routes. Greater Anglia has several measures in place to keep you safe, from regular cleaning and sanitisation of trains and stations, to making it easier for you to socially distance.
“We would like to thank customers for their patience while this work takes place.”
Passengers who need to travel between London and Norwich, London and Southend Victoria and London and Shoeburyness are advised to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator.
Photo credit: Network Rail
