04.05.18
Southend to undergo rail makeover
Passengers of the Southend Victoria Branch line are set to benefit from improved services as part of a £46m investment plan from Network Rail.
The work is part of the government-backed rail network’s improvement to reliability and increase in trains between Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street, including replacing the overhead wiring systems and structures to the line.
The current wiring system has been in place since 1950s and needs to be replaced to continue to run trains on the line.
Improvements to the wiring is a key part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan - due to be completed in 2019 - including targets for fewer delays and cancellations, an increase in train services and the introduction of Greater Anglia’s new trains.
Due to some of the work being carried during the night, late night services will be affected from 9:30pm on weeknights from Monday to Wednesday from Monday 4 June to Wednesday 10 October. During this time, structure and steelwork will take place to prepare for the installation of overhead wires.
During May bank holiday, engineers will install 4km of overhead between Billericay and Wickford. The first overhead wires were installed last year between Shenfield and Billericay.
Mliha Duymaz, route managing director for Anglia at Network Rail, said: “These improvements will make a real difference to Southend passengers as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.
“This isn’t just about improving reliability, but creating the foundations for future improvements, including new trains and more services for the growing number of passengers using this line. I appreciate that the closures are inconvenient but the work is essential to improving the rail service for this region.”
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