During the Easter Weekend, Network Rail carried out a number of upgrades to improve the reliability of services to Stansted and between London and Cambridge.
The work is part of a larger package of work to renew track and points on this busy section of the railway, with the remaining work scheduled through May and June. The improvements included:
- renewal of eleven sets of points;
- renewing over half a mile of track;
- installing new timbers and rails over two bridges;
- platform improvements at Bishops Stortford station;
- drainage works to keep the track bed in good condition.
Works such as these are essential to prevent issues that cause delays.
Just like road surfaces, track wears out from constant use from trains, even more so on busy main lines. Regular maintenance keeps the track in working order, but eventually, a full replacement is required to prevent delays.
The following service alterations are planned for the next month:
between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross, including the Stansted Express:
- buses replace trains from Saturday, 30th April to Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May and on Saturday, 7th and Sunday, 8th May.
between Hertford East and Waltham Cross:
- buses replace trains from Saturday, 30th April to Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May and on Saturday, 7th and Sunday, 8th May.
between Stansted Airport and Broxbourne, including the Stansted Express:
- buses replace trains on Saturday, 14th and Sunday, 15th May, and Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd May.
Passengers should check how their journey will be affected by going to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk or http://www.greateranglia.co.uk
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: “This work is essential to improve reliability and reduce the number of delays and cancellations on this busy part of the network. I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this important work to renew the track to improve reliability on this busy line.”
Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said: “We would like to thank customers for their patience while improvement work took place over the Easter weekend.
“Alongside Network Rail's track work, we carried out eight days of works on the Hertford East line as part of a project to lengthen platforms at Hertford East and Ware, to make them ready for new, longer trains.
“We're in the process of rolling out new trains across our network and this work will help to further improve reliability and punctuality on the line.”
What about continuing on replacing ageing overhead wires at Prittlewell and Southend Victoria.