Trains will not run between London Liverpool Street and Chingford in Essex for sixteen days in a row this summer, as Network Rail carries out work to replace a bridge.
The line will be closed between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August, inclusive.
The bridge is located south of Hackney Downs park and supports the junction of two roads: Downs Park Road and Bodney Road.
The bridge backs onto a tunnel, which emerges further down the line towards Clapton, which is also in the London borough of Hackney.
The bridge is 150 years old, dating from when the railway first arrived at Chingford.
Although Network Rail monitors it closely to confirm that it remains safe, the bridge's cast-iron girders are in a condition that is poor and getting worse.
Network Rail has concluded that it needs to replace the bridge.
By carrying out the work during a planned closure, it hopes to give passengers the opportunity to plan changes to their travel, which would not be possible if it waited for the bridge to deteriorate further, risking an unplanned closure.
The line between Liverpool Street and Chingford is nine miles long, and journeys take an average of twenty-seven minutes.
Over the two weeks and three weekends, workers from Network Rail's contractor, Murphy, will demolish the old bridge and begin constructing the new one.
Services between 20 July and 4 August (inclusive) will be affected as follows:
- No London Overground services between Hackney Downs and Chingford: no train service to or from Clapton, St James Street, Walthamstow Central, Wood Street, Highams Park and Chingford stations.
- London Underground Victoria line from Walthamstow Central will run throughout this time, including the Night Tube on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Local buses will run as usual across the affected route.
- Passengers wanting to travel between Liverpool Street and Hackney Downs / Bethnal Green may use London Overground services running to and from Enfield Town and Cheshunt.
- London Overground services to and from Enfield Town and Cheshunt may apply different timetables during the sixteen days, so Network Rail is advising regular passengers to check before they travel.
- Greater Anglia services that usually operate between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and terminate at Stratford instead. Usual Stratford-to-Meridian Water services will not run, but other services will make extra stops at both Meridian Water and Northumberland Park.
- Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will be diverted via Seven Sisters and will call there instead of Tottenham Hale. Bishop's Stortford to Stratford services will not operate, and Network Rail advises passengers to use alternative services.
Before and after the sixteen-day closure, work on the bridge replacement project will also affect train services. There will be changes to travel arrangements on the following dates:
- Sunday 23 June
- Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July
- Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August
- Sunday 1 September
- Sunday 8 September
Workers started the project in March, and Downs Park Road is already partially closed to vehicles. From Juily, it will also be closed to pedestrians and cyclists.
Network Rail expects to complete the bridge replacement by early 2025, at which point Downs Park Road will fully reopen. It expects the new bridge to last for 120 years.
“Thousands of people travel under and over this bridge every day by rail and road, and our project is vital to keeping their future journeys safe and reliable. We're sorry for the disruption this summer but we'll be working flat out to deliver a replacement bridge that will serve the community for generations to come.”
Simon Milburn, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director
“These Network Rail works are essential to ensure London Overground services can continue to operate safely and reliably for many years to come. My advice is to plan ahead, check before you travel and allow extra time to complete your journey while this work is taking place.”
Rory O'Neill, TfL's General Manager for London Overground
“Customers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys while this work takes place.
“We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this essential work is carried out.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director
Life expectancy of new bridge 120 years, a poor comment on the modern standards of workmanship when bridges hundreds of years old are still in regular use.
Not again…