For seven days in the run-up to Christmas, improvements were made to the Bakerloo line and London Overground between London Euston and Watford Junction to minimise the risk of flooding and reduce the number of power and signal failures which often lead to train cancellations on these lines.
During a seven-day closure, Network Rail engineers overhaul track and equipment on a 20-mile stretch of the lines and upgraded North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, Headstone Lane, and Carpenders Park stations in north London.
Upgrades to the stations included a combination of repairing roofs, renovating canopies, clearing gutters, resurfacing platforms, and installing tactile paving to improve safety for blind and partially sighted people.
Track upgrades included:
- Replacing 6,000 wooden sleepers dating back to the 1950s with concrete ones;
- Ugrading drainage along 1.6km of the line between Harlesden and Kenton to prevent future flooding;
- Installing 10km of new signal cables;
- Upgrading the power supply for Underground and Overground trains;
- Demolishing a derelict, railway-locked electricity substation that was in danger of collapse.
The upgraded track work will improve journey reliability, while the renovated stations will provide passengers with a more pleasurable and safer journey.
During the work, the lines were closed completely, so that engineering teams could carry out multiple complex projects simultaneously, instead of years of weekend or overnight work. For example, replacing the sleepers working just overnight shifts midweek would have taken nearly eight years. To install the 10km of new signal cables, the seven-day closure replaced ten years of overnight work, saving both time and taxpayers' money.
James Dean, Network Rail's West Coast South route director, said: “We're really grateful to passengers for their patience while we closed the railway just before Christmas so we could carry out these essential projects.
“It enabled us to bring sections of track right into the 21st century with new equipment which is much more reliable and robust. We were also able to transform five stations making them cleaner and brighter – I hope people enjoy using them much more as a result. Next month we'll be returning to carry out even more work to improve the Bakerloo line and London Overground for the future.”
Rory O'Neill, TfL's general manager for London Overground, said: “We would like to thank customers for their patience while Network Rail made these vital infrastructure improvements designed to increase train reliability and customer comfort. Our goal is always to provide our customers with the safest and most reliable service possible, and these Network Rail improvements will help to ensure we can do just that.”
Between Saturday 11 and Sunday 19 February, the same stretch of railway will be closed for similar essential improvements to remaining stations, track and line side equipment, including 5,000 more sleepers being replaced.
The scale of the work means the Bakerloo line between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone and the London Overground between Euston and Watford Junction will once again be closed.
Over the nine-day closure, Transport for London passengers affected by the upgrades can complete their journeys by using alternative rail lines, existing or temporary bus routes*.
Passengers intending to travel during the upcoming closures should plan ahead by checking www.nationalrail.co.uk, www.tfl.gov.uk or the Transport for London (TfL) Go app.
