Great Eastern Main Line works to commence this month

Vital upgrade works are set to take place on the Great Eastern Main Line this month.

The work will take place between January and February between London Liverpool Street station and Shenfield and on the Southend Victoria line to improve reliability for passengers.

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Major renewal works will continue to replace the overhead line electrification system between Stratford and Maryland to install a new auto-tension system that allows the overhead wires to adapt to temperature changes, meaning fewer delays and cancellations for passengers.

Further maintenance works will be taking place along the line at the same time on numerous footbridge structures at Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Brentwood as well as track maintenance at Ilford and Shenfield. Works on the Southend Victoria line include track refurbishment, earthworks and removal of redundant overhead line structures.

These works will take place over the following weekends in January and February:

• Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January 2021
• Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2021
• Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2021
• Saturday 06 and Sunday 07 February 2021
• Sunday 14 February 2021*
• Sunday 21 February 2021

*Separately, track works are also taking place between Colchester and Ipswich on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February which will also affect services.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s Route Director for Anglia said: “We’re planning to do a lot of work early in the new year which means we have to close a large section of the main line for several weekends for which I apologise.

“We are planning to complete the major overhead line renewals work at Stratford by Easter 2021 so that the new systems are in place for the warmer summer months, improving reliability for passengers and reducing the risk of cancellations and delays from heat-related speed restrictions.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “A rail replacement bus service will operate while the work takes place. Passengers should allow more time for their journey and check before they travel. We would like to thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“We are already seeing the benefits of major improvement work which was carried out on the Southend Victoria line. The infrastructure is more resilient in the summer months meaning more trains are running on time. This work is the final part of the upgrade project and while there is never an ideal time for engineering work to take place, we are pleased it will be finished in time for the spring.

“We are working with Network Rail to modernise the railway in East Anglia. As part of this, we are replacing every single train in our fleet with a brand new one. The first new train on the Southend line came into service in November 2020 and we will continue with the roll out next year.

“We’d like to reassure customers that they can travel safely with us whether it be by train or bus and remind people to wear a face-covering over their nose and mouth for all of their journey, including on buses, trains or stations.”