Traffic & Travel
Trains to Cambridgeshire suspended as work gets under way on new bridge
Bridge replacement work in Broxbourne means that part of the main line – including to Cambridgeshire – will be suspended from Friday 13 January to Wednesday 18 January inclusive.
The Nazeing New Road bridge sits over the line that carries trains between London and Hertfordshire, Essex, and Cambridgeshire.
Network Rail is replacing the central spans of the bridge during a four-month road closure, but the main work over the railway will take place between 13 and 18 January.
Trains won’t be able to run on this part of the line during the six days, so there will be rail replacement buses on some routes and alternative travel options for other journeys.
Passengers should check before they travel with Greater Anglia, Stansted Express or National Rail
Despite remedial works being carried out on the bridge between 2010-14, it has continued to deteriorate and has reached the end of its useful life.
It now needs to be replaced to keep passengers, drivers, and pedestrians safe, and to avoid a prolonged closure at short notice.
The new bridge is designed to last 120 years. Network Rail is delivering the project with its contractor, J Murphy and Sons.
The road over the bridge is now closed until Sunday 30 April 2023 to allow the replacement work to be completed. Pedestrian and vehicle diversionary routes are signposted.
Kate Snowden, Network Rail Anglia head of communications, said: “I’m really sorry about the impact of this work on people’s journeys but, if we don’t do it now, it could lead to a much more disruptive closure in future.
“Replacing the bridge will enable us to maintain a safe and reliable route for passengers, drivers and pedestrians for years to come.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused while our trains are unable to run under the Nazeing New Road bridge and will be doing everything we can to help customers continue their journeys during this period.”
Other engineering work on the main line will be taking place on the weekends of 21/22 January and 28/29 January, so passengers should continue to check before they travel.
BRIEFING
Rail replacement and ticket acceptance information for Greater Anglia passengers, 13-18 January
Hertford East to London Liverpool Street
On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line.
Passengers should make their own way to Hertford North for a Great Northern train to King’s Cross/Moorgate. Tickets will be accepted on Great Northern services between Moorgate and Hertford North via Finsbury Park, King’s Cross St Pancras to Cambridge and other reasonable routes.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line, so passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne for the rail replacement service to Waltham Cross.
From Waltham Cross there will be four trains per hour to London Liverpool Street. Passengers can also make their own way to Hertford North for a Great Northern train to King’s Cross/Moorgate.
Tickets will be accepted on Great Northern services between Moorgate and Hertford North via Finsbury Park, King’s Cross St Pancras to Cambridge and other reasonable routes.
Hertford East to stations north of Broxbourne including Cambridge/Stansted Airport
On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line.
Passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne and travel from there on a replacement bus service to Bishop’s Stortford where they can board trains for Cambridge, Cambridge North, and Stansted Airport, or towards Harlow Town, calling at all stations.
The replacement bus service will be very limited, so passengers are advised to find alternative travel arrangements.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses on the Hertford East line. Passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne and travel from there on a replacement bus service to Harlow Town and all stations to Audley End/Stansted Airport.
Stansted Airport to and from London Liverpool Street
On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, passengers travelling to and from Stansted Airport should go via Cambridge on Great Northern services between Cambridge and London King’s Cross.
Tickets will be accepted. Greater Anglia trains will operate between Cambridge and Stansted Airport. London Underground will also accept tickets for travel between London King’s Cross and London Liverpool Street and also on the Victoria Line between Tottenham Hale and London King’s Cross.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, airport passengers should take the rail replacement bus to/from Waltham Cross (direct bus with no stops) where a train service to/from London Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale, will operate all weekend. Rail replacement will be very limited.
From London Liverpool Street to Cambridge and intermediate stations
On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be up to four trains per hour between London Liverpool Street and Waltham Cross, where there will be onward bus connections to Broxbourne and Bishop’s Stortford.
From Bishop’s Stortford, there will be onward train services to Cambridge North or Harlow Town, calling at all stations. Rail replacement buses will be very limited.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be four trains per hour between London Liverpool Street and Waltham Cross, where there will be onward bus connections to Audley End calling at Broxbourne, Harlow Town and then all stations to Audley End. From Audley End, a train service will operate to Cambridge North.
Between London Liverpool Street and Roydon
On Friday 13, Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses to/from Roydon. Passengers should travel via local bus to Hertford North for a Great Northern train to King’s Cross/Moorgate. Tickets will be accepted on Great Northern.
Passengers may also make their own way to Broxbourne from where the rail replacement bus service to Waltham Cross will operate.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January, there will be no Greater Anglia trains or replacement buses to/from Roydon.
Passengers should make their own way to Broxbourne and travel from there on a replacement bus service.
Between Cambridge/Stansted Airport and Cheshunt
From Friday 13 until Wednesday 18 January, passengers will need to travel to Waltham Cross by Greater Anglia train service where they can pick up the rail replacement service.
On the weekdays this rail replacement service will operate to Bishop’s Stortford for a train service to Stansted Airport or Cambridge North.
The rail replacement bus service will be limited, so passengers are advised to find alternative travel arrangements.
On the weekends the rail replacement operation is extended to Stansted Airport or Audley End for a train service to Cambridge North.
![Councillor visit to ESCC (L-R: Councillor Geoffrey Seef, County Councillor for St Neots The Eatons [local councillor]; Rob Ashwell, chairman of ESCC; Cllr Alex Bulat Vice-Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's Communities, Social Mobility, and Inclusion Committee). Credit to Cambridgeshire County Council.](https://www.cambsnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Councillor-visit-to-ESCC_cropped-400x240.jpg)
![Councillor visit to ESCC (L-R: Councillor Geoffrey Seef, County Councillor for St Neots The Eatons [local councillor]; Rob Ashwell, chairman of ESCC; Cllr Alex Bulat Vice-Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's Communities, Social Mobility, and Inclusion Committee). Credit to Cambridgeshire County Council.](https://www.cambsnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Councillor-visit-to-ESCC_cropped-80x80.jpg)