Vital track and bridge works are taking place on the London Overground Mildmay line, which runs between Stratford and Richmond/Clapham Junction.
The closures will allow Network Rail to replace 675 metres of worn-out track near Stratford, which will involve installing brand-new rails, sleepers and ballast. There is a lot of wear and tear on the section of track being replaced because it is intensively used by heavy freight trains. The track replacement work will reduce the chance of faults in future that could have a major knock-on effect on passenger services.
Engineers will also be replacing 20 wheel timbers on a bridge that carries the railway over Chalk Farm Road to the west of Camden Road station. Wheel timbers are used to hold the rails in place across certain types of bridge and they gradually deteriorate over time. The new wheel timbers being installed are made of a more durable material that should last up to 50 years.
While these works are taking place, Network Rail will be carrying out additional targeted maintenance along the Mildmay line that will help to minimise delays to services during 2025 and beyond. This will include:
- Replacing points (which allow trains to change tracks) near Stratford
- Fixing track defects between Camden Road and Stratford
- Fixing overhead line defects between Camden Road and Stratford, with a focus on Canonbury
- Using tamping machines on several stretches of route to rearrange the ballast and restore the line and level of the track
Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “We’re really sorry for the disruption, but there are lots of vital jobs that we simply can’t get done whilst trains are running. We’ll be making the very most of our time on track to help keep this part of the railway safe and reliable.”
Image credit: Network Rail