Train services have resumed running between London St Pancras and Bedford following its closure over Christmas to enable the replacement of a road bridge deck at Camden in North London.

Services were suspended so that journeys on the Midland Main Line could be improved by completely removing and replacing a 160-year-old bridge at Agar Grove at Camden in North London and installing a new bridge to facilitate access to a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Radlett in Hertfordshire.

The new bridge in Hertfordshire was installed by sliding it underneath the track. In preparation for its installation, the new bridge was pre-constructed next to the railway so it could be pushed into place while the line was closed. The new bridge should contribute to a significant reduction of HGVs on the roads.

Overall, the line was closed for nine days, and beside the major project at Agar Grove and Radlett, hundreds of Network Rail colleagues worked around the clock to replace power lines near Bedford and carry out dozens of smaller maintenance projects to keep the railway safe and reliable, both on the Midland Main Line and elsewhere on the railway network.

Although the line has reopened, work at Agar Grove will continue until May as the crane is removed and multiple utilities, including water pipes and telephone cables, are reinstated through the new bridge deck. 

“This project has been many years in the making, with meticulous planning of every detail, and its successful delivery is an outstanding achievement. The bridge deck at Agar Grove was more than 160 years old and needed replacing. While there is no perfect time to close the railway, the Christmas break provides the best opportunity because of lower passenger numbers. We’re extremely thankful to residents living near the site for their understanding, and for the patience of passengers whose journeys were disrupted. These essential upgrades will result in smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers in the future.”

Mark Budden, Network Rail route director