Network Rail has announced that Southend rail passengers are able to catch their usual trains from today, Monday 16th March.
This news comes after a speed restriction at Maryland, near Stratford, was lifted.
Seeing the impact the speed restriction had on passengers, Network Rail reworked the track upgrade programme so that trains can travel through Maryland at a higher speed.
The speed restriction was put in place as part of a programme to replace the track on the lines out of London Liverpool Street.
Once completed, this will reduce the number of delays and cancellations due to track faults. The speed restriction meant that a small number of trains were cancelled in the morning and evening peaks.
Work to replace track at Maryland will continue until 30 March, with follow-up work taking place on the 18-19 April.
What did the officials say?
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said:
“I'm sorry that passengers on the Southend line have bared the brunt of this speed restriction and that coupled with the closures for the weekend works to upgrade the overhead wires, they are dealing with a lot of disruption.
“For that reason, we've rephased the works so that we could safely lift the speed restriction two weeks earlier than planned so a full service can run. I have begun a full review into this to minimise the impact of our work in the future.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said:
“We are very pleased that Network Rail has been able to lift the speed restriction at Maryland earlier than expected – which is good news for our customers. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this incident caused to our customers in the last two weeks, especially those on the Southend line, where some rush-hour services were cancelled.”
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And what about replacing the ageing overhead wires at Stratford station. As Network Rail are continuing on replacing overhead wires on the Southend Victoria line with the last part between Prittlewell and Southend Victoria. And they should start on replacing ageing overhead wires on the c2c line between Bromley-by-Bow and Fenchurch Street and also to replace ageing overhead wires on the Ardwick-Gosslop & Hatfield lines with the proposed electrification to Stalybridge.