Published on: Thursday, 27 June 2024
Last updated: Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Rail passengers travelling on the West Anglia route, including Stansted Express, are advised to check before they travel as Network Rail carry out engineering work this summer.
Between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August, Network Rail will work on a bridge replacement project near Hackney Downs.
During this time, apart from on Sundays, Greater Anglia services that usually run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and finish at Stratford instead.
Additionally, Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will be diverted via, and call at, Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale.
On Sundays, for most of the day, services will still run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East, travelling via Stratford. Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will call at Tottenham Hale as usual.
Stratford – Meridian Water trains won’t run during the works, but other services will make additional stops at Lea Bridge, Meridian Water and Northumberland Park. Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford services will also not operate, with passengers advised to use alternative services.
Trains may leave at different times than normal throughout the period and journey times may be extended by several minutes.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said:
“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.”
The 150-year-old bridge over the railway is located to the south of Hackney Downs Park and carries the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road. It backs directly onto a tunnel, which emerges further down the line towards Clapton.
The bridge is monitored closely to check it is safe, but its cast iron girders are in poor condition, and they are continuing to deteriorate. A replacement structure is needed to avoid an unplanned closure and keep passengers and road users moving safely in future.
Over the 16 consecutive days, engineers from Network Rail’s contractor, Murphy, will demolish the old bridge and start building the new one.
Train services will also be affected by preparatory and follow-up works on:
- Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July
- Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August
- Sunday 1 September
- Sunday 8 September
Information for Greater Anglia passengers:
Saturday 20 July
All Stansted Express and Cambridge services will divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result. All Hertford East services will terminate at Stratford.
Sunday 21 July (Until 23.15)
All West Anglia / Stansted Express services operate via Tottenham Hale and Stratford to / from Liverpool St. Journey times will be extended in both directions by up to ten minutes, and West Anglia / Stansted Express services will depart Liverpool St up to ten minutes earlier than normal.
Sunday 21 July (From 23:15 until end of service)
All trains divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result.
Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July
A revised service will operate all day on Greater Anglia West routes. All trains between Stansted Airport/Cambridge and Liverpool St will divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result. All Hertford East services divert via Tottenham Hale and to / from Stratford.
Saturday 27 July
All Stansted Express and Cambridge service will divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result. All Hertford East services divert via Tottenham Hale and to / from Stratford.
Sunday 28 July (From start of service until 08:15)
All trains divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result.
Sunday 28 July (From 08:15 Sun until 00:01 Mon)
All West Anglia / Stansted Express services operate via Tottenham Hale and Stratford to / from Liverpool St. Journey times will be extended in both directions by up to ten minutes, and West Anglia / Stansted Express services will depart Liverpool St up to ten minutes earlier than normal.
Sunday 28 July (From 00:01 until 04:45 Mon)
All trains divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result.
Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August
A revised service will operate all day on Greater Anglia West routes. All trains between Stansted Airport/Cambridge and Liverpool St will divert via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale with journey times extending by several minutes as a result. All Hertford East services divert via Tottenham Hale and to / from Stratford.
Saturday 3 August
Cambridge/Stansted Airport services will run via Seven Sisters with Hertford East services running to Stratford via Tottenham Hale. Journey times will be extended by in both directions by up to ten minutes.
Sunday 4 August
All West Anglia / Stansted Express services operate via Tottenham Hale and Stratford to / from Liverpool St. Journey times will be extended by in both directions by up to ten minutes, and West Anglia / Stansted Express services will depart Liverpool St up to ten minutes earlier than normal.
Meridian Water to Stratford shuttles will not operate all fortnight.
Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford services will not operate. Customers should use alternative services.
Information for passengers travelling with other train operators:
No London Overground services will run between Hackney Downs and Chingford stations. This means there will be no rail service to or from Clapton, St James Street, Walthamstow Central, Wood Street, Highams Park and Chingford stations.
To help London Overground passengers get around during the works:
- Rail replacement buses will run between Hackney Downs and Chingford every 20 minutes, calling at all stations
- The Victoria line will be operating between Walthamstow Central and central London throughout the period
- Local buses will be running across the affected London Overground line, with passengers particularly advised to check routes 97, 212, 230 and 275 when planning their journeys
- London Overground services to Enfield Town and Cheshunt will serve Bethnal Green and Hackney Downs stations
Passengers using London Overground’s Enfield Town and Cheshunt lines should also check before they travel as there will be a different timetable on these routes during the 16 days.