Traffic & Travel
Cambridgeshire travellers warned of Christmas rail changes
No trains will run into or out of Liverpool Street mainline station from the end of services on Christmas Eve until the start of services on Tuesday 3 January.
It is part of an ongoing programme of maintenance and improvement works.
Rail replacement buses will operate to help Greater Anglia passengers get to and from London on the Norwich and Southend Victoria lines.
Cambridge and Stansted Express services will start and terminate at Tottenham Hale.
London Overground and Elizabeth line trains will also not run into or out of Liverpool Street mainline station, with rail replacement in operation.
Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station remains open for those travelling between Abbey Wood and Paddington.
Improvement work includes:
- Bringing a brand-new power system into use that will supply overhead lines between Bow and Shenfield. The new equipment will make this busy section of line fit for the future, supporting the long-term reliable running of both Elizabeth line and Greater Anglia trains.
- Removing an old rail-over-road bridge near Bethnal Green and replacing it with a strong new bridge that will last for decades
- Refurbishing multiple sets of points outside Liverpool Street station. Points allow trains to change between tracks, vital for everyday operations
Network Rail says among projects “with minimal or no disruption to passengers” include:
- Installing brand new equipment for the Cambridge re-signalling project, which aims to deliver state-of-the-art signalling technology to the area, meaning fewer failures
Passengers are advised to check before they travel at greateranglia.co.uk, c2c-online.co.uk and tfl.gov.uk for the Elizabeth line and London Overground. Journeys can also be checked on the National Rail journey planner
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Work over Christmas is critical for upgrading and maintaining the railway ahead of the new year, with our teams out on track while so many of us are having fun and relaxing in our homes.
“We have a significant Christmas programme this year, particularly on the lines into Liverpool Street. I hope passengers can understand the need for the upgrades and I’d like to reassure them that we’ll be getting a huge amount done while trains aren’t running. I also want to say thank you to our lineside neighbours for bearing with us while we’re out working hard in their communities.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We appreciate that this work is inconvenient for passengers, but it is vital for the long-term reliability of our busy network.
“We will make sure that our customers can all complete their journeys, even if part of it is by bus.”
Rail replacement and ticket acceptance information for Greater Anglia passengers:
The Liverpool Street work will affect Greater Anglia mainline services from 27 December up to and including 2 January.
Rail replacement buses will run to Newbury Park TfL Central Line station from Ingatestone on the Norwich mainline, and from Billericay on the Southend Victoria line (except on 27 December when a replacement bus service will run between Southend Victoria and Newbury Park TfL Central Line station). National Rail tickets will be accepted on TfL Central Line services between Newbury Park and Stratford / Liverpool Street.
No full-size bikes or e-scooters are allowed on rail replacement buses.
Cambridge to Liverpool Street services will terminate at Tottenham Hale, where passengers can then transfer onto the TfL Victoria Line, from 27 December up to and including 2 January. National Rail tickets will be accepted on TfL Victoria Line services between Tottenham Hale and King’s Cross, and also on TfL Circle Line/ Hammersmith & City Line/ Metropolitan Line services between King’s Cross and Liverpool Street.
The Stansted Express service will run between Tottenham Hale and Stansted Airport from Boxing Day up to and including 2 January. National Rail tickets will be accepted on TfL Victoria Line services between Tottenham Hale and King’s Cross, and also on TfL Circle Line/ Hammersmith & City Line/ Metropolitan Line services between King’s Cross and Liverpool Street.
There are no Greater Anglia services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day and there are no Stansted Express services on Christmas Day.
