ESSEX: Network Rail promises less Christmas train disruption

NETWORK Rail has promised commuters returning to work after the long Christmas weekend that full services will be running out of Liverpool Street.

A less intensive programme of railway improvement work will be taking place over the festive period following the completion of important work on overhead power lines in the Bethnal Green and Bow area.

The work, part of a £150 million project to renew old overhead lines between Liverpool Street, Chelmsford and Southend Victoria, will increase reliability and performance and lays the groundwork for further improvement work over the next two years in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

The work is targeted at one of the quietest times of year for rail travel when demand is at a low level compared to normal, enabling the company to carry a programme of improvement work to build a bigger better railway with minimal disruption to rail users.

Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail route director for Anglia, said: "Liverpool Street station is one of the busiest in the country and is a vital transport hub for hundreds of thousands of commuters working in the City and beyond.

"The improvement work being carried out over the Christmas period is part of a £150m upgrade which Network Rail is investing to deliver a better, more reliable railway for passengers on this route. Passengers will be pleased to hear that our activity this year is significantly down on previous years and is concentrated on just one weekend to minimise disruption to rail users."

●No services will operate from Liverpool Street station on Christmas and Boxing Day except for the Stansted Express service.

●On Saturday December 27 and Sunday December 28 all services on the Great Eastern Mainline will start from, and terminate at, Ilford. A special coach replacement services for intercity customers will operate between Ingatestone and London Liverpool Street with a local rail replacement bus service between Ilford and Newbury Park.

●Passengers are advised to check their Christmas travel arrangements with www.nationalrail.co.uk or by calling National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.