A variety of upgrade work will be taking place this Autumn between Stratford and Shenfield in order to improve reliability for passengers, and also to prepare for the start of Elizabeth Line train services.
Work will take place at Stratford and Maryland to upgrade the overhead wires to include a new auto-tension system that adapts to temperature changes.
Additionally, the power systems along the line to Shenfield will be upgraded to prepare for the start of Elizabeth Line train services.
Infrastructure work has mostly been completed for Crossrail between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield, but this work is being completed to provide enough power supply for the new Elizabeth Line trains.
Works will take place on the following dates this autumn:
- Sunday 18 October
- Sunday 25 October
- Sunday 1 November
- Sunday 8 November
- Sunday 15 November
- Sunday 22 November
The following services into London will be affected by these works:
- TfL Rail
- Services will be suspended on the above dates, with rail replacement buses in operation to provide connections to the London Underground at Newbury Park.
- Greater Anglia
- With the exception of Sunday 1 and 8 November (Remembrance Sunday), London bound Greater Anglia trains from Norwich will terminate at Ipswich.
- Rail replacement buses will be in operation between:
- Ipswich and Newpark Park
- Witham and Braintree
- Marks Tey and Sudbury
- Rail replacement buses will be in operation between:
- Trains between Southend Victoria and Southminster will terminate at Billericay, with rail replacement buses in operation for onward travel.
- On Sunday 1 November, London bound trains will terminate at Colchester. Rail replacement buses will call at all stations to connect with Newbury Park.
- Train services into London will be available on 8 November (Remembrance Sunday)
- With the exception of Sunday 1 and 8 November (Remembrance Sunday), London bound Greater Anglia trains from Norwich will terminate at Ipswich.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia said: “The recent hot weather has shown that having a modern overhead power system that automatically adjusts to ambient air temperature is vital to running an efficient railway. Having completed the upgrade of the overhead wires between Forest Gate and Chelmsford and on the Southend Victoria line, updating the wires in Stratford is our last big push to get this upgrade work completed.
“Not running trains on some Sundays will be inconvenient for which I apologise, but it is vital time for our engineers to make preparations for our bigger package of works at Christmas.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia's Managing Director, said: “This essential work will help to improve the punctuality and reliability of our services.
“Similar work has already been carried out on the Southend Victoria line, and we are already seeing the benefits.
“A rail replacement bus service will be in operation while the work takes place. Customers should check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank customers for their patience.”
The upgrade between Stratford and Maryland will continue over Christmas 2020 and also at weekends in January and February 2021, with the work being completed by Easter 2021.
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Would like to see the new overhead wires installed at Maryland and Stratford and at Prittlewell and Southend Victoria. Which goes to show that Network Rail have completed replacing overhead wires. The next task is to replace the ageing 1950s OHL on the LTS Line (Bromley-by-Bow-Fenchurch Street) and the Ardwick-Gosslop & Hatfield line (which was once part of the Woodhead Line) in the Greater Manchester area. With new overhead wires installed at Guide Bridge and possible electrification to Stalybridge.
Plus with the last part of the OHL renewals on the Southend Victoria Line between Prittlewell-Southend Victoria. Then the whole project is completed next year.
And maybe Network Rail should also start planning ahead to start replacing the overhead wires on the LTS Line between Bromley-by-Bow and Fenchurch Street with replacing the ageing 1950s overhead wires including at Limehouse.
And to replace the ageing 1950s overhead wires on the Ashburys-Gosslop and Hatfield lines via Guide Bridge (formerly part of the Woodhead Line). And to electrify to Stalybridge for Northern Class 323 and Class 331 EMUs as they can operate between Manchester Piccadilly-Gosslop, Hatfield and Stalybridge.