Greater Anglia is carrying out work to make platforms at four stations long enough for brand-new ten-carriage trains – which means buses will replace trains on some routes over the summer, including for 17 days in a row on the Hertford East line.
In addition, due to strike action, on Saturday 13, Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August, there will be no service at all, including no bus replacement service, although engineering works will continue.
Platforms at Hertford East, Ware, Broxbourne and Stratford stations need to be lengthened in the final stage of Greater Anglia’s programme to replace every single train on the network with brand-new state-of-the-art trains.
The work is taking place at weekends in August, including a 17-day-stretch of continuous engineering works on the Hertford East Line from Saturday 13 to Monday 29 August.
Greater Anglia will run a rail replacement bus service and Greater Anglia tickets will also be accepted on Great Northern trains from Hertford North to London Kings Cross, except for when strikes are scheduled for Saturday 13, Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August, where there will be no rail or replacement bus service, and on Sunday 28 August when engineering work is affecting the Hertford North line.
Work is due to take place on the following dates:
- Saturday 6 August, buses replace trains between Broxbourne and Hertford East
- Sunday 7 August, buses between Waltham Cross and Stansted Airport and between Waltham Cross and Hertford East.
- On Saturday 13 August, there will be no service due to strike action.
- Sunday 14 to Monday 29 August, buses replace trains on the Hertford East branch as shown below, except for Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August when there will be no service at all due to strike action, and no bus replacement service.
- Sunday 14 August, buses replace trains between Waltham Cross and Hertford East and between Waltham Cross and Harlow Town for local journeys only. Services may start later as a knock-on effect of the strike action, so passengers should check before they travel.
- Monday 15 to Friday 19 August, buses replace trains between Broxbourne and Hertford East, except for Thursday 18 August, when there will be no service at all due to strike action, and no bus replacement service. Services may start later on Friday 19 August as a knock-on effect of the strike action, so passengers should check before they travel.
- On Saturday 20 August, there will be no service due to strike action, and no bus replacement service.
- On Sunday 21 August, buses replace trains between Waltham Cross and Hertford East and between Waltham Cross and Harlow Town for local journeys only. Services may start later as a knock-on effect of the strike action, so passengers should check before they travel.
- Monday 22 to Sunday 28 August, buses replace trains between Broxbourne and Hertford East
- Monday 29 August, buses replace trains between Waltham Cross and Hertford East and between Waltham Cross and Harlow Town for local journeys only.
- Work to lengthen the platform 11 at Stratford platform will take place at various weekends (expected to be Saturday 6, Sunday 7, Saturday 13, Sunday 14, Saturday 20, Sunday 21, Sunday 24, Saturday 27 August) and Sunday 28 August. Passengers are advised to check for updates at GreaterAnglia.co.uk. Trains will be diverted to London Liverpool Street. Rail strikes are due to ake place on Saturday 13 and Saturday 20 August, when people are advised to avoid travelling on Greater Anglia trains.
Andrew Goodrum, Greater Anglia’s client and programme director, said: “We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this work causes our customers, but it’s essential so that we can run our new longer trains on this busy commuter route.
“Customer reaction to our new trains has been fantastic. With their plug and USB points, fast free wifi, air conditioning, improved accessibility features, dedicated cycle spaces and better passenger information screens, our new trains offer a much better travel experience.”
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused during the strike days, which mean we are unable to run any services at all on this line on those days.”
No full-size bikes or e-scooters can be carried by rail replacement buses.
Timetables for each of the periods of work will be published on the Greater Anglia website. Planned engineering works are published in the service alterations calendar. Updates will also be posted on social media using the hashtag #PlatformWorks.
Information about the project can be found at greateranglia.co.uk/hertfordeast.
Photo credit: Greater Anglia
