Commuters to London can expect chaos to train lines over weekends between October and December, with a full 10-day closure over Christmas, it has been announced.
Important upgrades for the Crossrail programme and new overhead wires being installed between the Norwich and London line will take place at weekends between October and December.
Network Rail’s engineers will spend the equivalent of 20,000 hours replacing more than 10km of overheard wire at Ilford, causing major disruptions for people needing to travel to London.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We will make sure that customers can complete their journeys during all periods of engineering works, even if part of it is by bus.
“Our rail replacement bus service operates very smoothly, with extra staff on hand to direct customers to the right bus.
“These works are crucial if we are to get the modern railway we need in East Anglia and combined with the new trains we’re getting to replace every single train on our network, should lead to a transformed railway for us all.”
Despite the disruptions to rail way services, towns such as Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds might benefit from a rise in the number of Christmas shoppers who would usually travel to the capital.
The current wires and structures were installed in the 1950s and the system is one of the oldest in the country.
When the weather gets hot, the wires sag and speed has to be reduced to avoid damage by the trains.
The new wires are controlled by a system of weights, to keep them secure at all times, so trains can pass at their normal speed.
Disruptions to Greater Anglia services
Saturday, October 21, to Sunday, October 22
A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone/Wickford and Newbury Park (London Underground) all weekend. Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to and from London Liverpool Street on both days. C2C ticket acceptance will also be offered on the Southend Branch Line.
Sunday, October 29
A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone/Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to and from London Liverpool Street. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations. However, London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/Billericay for a buses to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
Saturday, November 4, to Sunday, November 5
A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone/Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to and from London Liverpool Street. C2C ticket acceptance will also be offered on the Southend Branch Line. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations. However, London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/Billericay for buses to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
On Sunday, until 1.30pm all trains will terminate at Ingatestone and Billericay with onward travel by rail replacement to Newbury Park. After 1.30pm on Sunday, trains will terminate at Shenfield for local passengers only.
Saturday, November 18
A rail replacement service will run between Ingatestone/Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to and from London Liverpool Street. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations. However, London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/Billericay for buses to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
Sunday, November 19
Until 11.25am: A rail replacement bus service will run between Colchester/Billericay and Newbury Park. A train shuttle service will operate on the Braintree and Sudbury Lines, connecting into rail replacement services to Newbury Park.
After 11.25: Trains will resume from Colchester to Ingatestone and a rail replacement bus service will be between Ingatestone/Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to and from London Liverpool Street on both days. Please note that trains will terminate at Shenfield for passengers for local stations. However, London bound passengers should disembark at Ingatestone/Billericay for buses to Newbury Park and onward travel to London.
Christmas
A rail replacement service will run between Ingatestone/Billericay and Newbury Park (London Underground). Tickets will be accepted on the Central line from Newbury Park to and from London Liverpool Street.
TfL Rail Disruptions
Saturday, September 16, and 23, and October 7.
There will be no service between Liverpool Street and Stratford. Customers are advised to use the Central line instead.
Saturday, October 21, and Sunday, October 22
There will be no service between Stratford and Shenfield. Rail replacement buses will run:
• Stratford – Forest Gate – Manor Park – Ilford – Seven Kings – Goodmayes – Chadwell Heath – Romford
• Newbury Park (for the Central line) – Chadwell Heath - Romford – Gidea Park – Harold Wood – Brentwood – Shenfield
Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29
On Saturday, trains will not stop at Maryland, Forest Gate or Manor Park. On Sunday, there will be no service between Liverpool Street and Ilford. Customers are advised to use local bus routes instead.
Saturday, November 4, and Sunday, November 5
There will be no service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Rail replacement buses will run:
• Stratford – Forest Gate – Manor Park – Ilford – Seven Kings – Goodmayes – Chadwell Heath – Romford
• Newbury Park (for the Central line) – Chadwell Heath - Romford – Gidea Park – Harold Wood – Brentwood – Shenfield
Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, November 19
There will be no service between Liverpool Street and Romford. Rail replacement buses will run:
• Stratford – Forest Gate – Manor Park – Ilford – Seven Kings – Goodmayes – Chadwell Heath – Romford
Saturdays, November 25, and December 2, 9 and 16
There will be no service between Chadwell Heath and Shenfield. Rail replacement buses will run:
• Chadwell Heath - Romford – Gidea Park – Harold Wood – Brentwood – Shenfield
Christmas
There will be no service between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street from Saturday, December 23, until Monday, January 1.
Rail replacement buses will run (except from 11pm on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas Day):
• Stratford – Forest Gate – Manor Park – Ilford –Seven Kings – Goodmayes – Chadwell Heath – Romford
• Newbury Park (for the Central line) – Chadwell Heath - Romford – Gidea Park – Harold Wood – Brentwood – Shenfield
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