Trains disruption warning as bridge is replaced

Passengers are being warned services to and from Liverpool Street station, including the Overground, will be disrupted while a 150-year-old bridge is replaced.

Trains will not run for 16 days between Saturday and 4 August while Network Rail demolishes the bridge over the railway in Hackney, east London, and rebuilds it.

During the works there will be no London Overground service between Hackney Downs and Chingford and changes to Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services.

Network Rail has apologised for the disruption.

Network Rail added the bridge, which carries the road junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road, was only designed to last 120 years and needs to be replaced.

Railway maintenance is planned on the line while the work takes place, including on the track, overhead lines and signalling equipment, as well as cleaning and maintenance at stations, Network Rail said.

Work on the bridge has begun and it is closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and Downs Park Road is expected to remain closed to vehicles until early 2025.

Some Greater Anglia trains which usually call at Liverpool Street will terminate at Stratford and will run a reduced service on Sundays, while Stansted Airport and Cambridge services will be diverted to Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale.

Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford trains will not operate and the usual Stratford to Meridian Water shuttle services won’t run either, but other services will make stops at Lea Bridge, Northumberland Park and Meridian Water.

Train services will also be affected by follow-up works on 17 and 18 August, and 1 and 8 September.

Network Rail said passengers can get around by using local buses and the Victoria line between Walthamstow Central and central London.

Seven Sisters station is expected to be much busier than usual and Network Rail said a one-way system will operate at peak periods.

For Overground passengers, the line will serve Bethnal Green and Hackney Downs stations and there will be rail replacement buses between Hackney Downs and Chingford every 20 minutes.

Simon Milburn, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director, said: "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."

Rory O’Neill, Transport for London’s (TfL) general manager for London Overground, said the works "are essential to ensure London Overground services can continue to operate safely and reliably for many years to come", and he advised people to check before they travelled and allow extra time for journeys.

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