A life expired junction in North London near Edmonton Green is set to be replaced and upgraded over the early part of this summer.
The junction which has seen heavy use in recent years with the introduction and frequent running of London Overground trains is set to close over a series of weekends including also a normal working weekday for major replacement of all its points and crossings, and installation of new digital equipment.
Points switch trains from one line to another so they can carry on with their journey.
Moving the point blades several times a day for the different trains is crucial to the everyday running of the railway, especially where trains run frequently.
A track patrol at the junction to be refurbished // Credit: Network Rail
Network Rail will be replacing all four points on the junction, where trains heading out of Liverpool Street head left for Enfield town or right for the Cheshunt line, with the addition of also replacing 150 metres of track.
The points and some of the track in the local vicinity sit on wooden sleepers, which engineers believe were installed over 50 years ago, as is the current equipment that operates them, which is now slowly being phased out.
The opportunity to replace the entire junction is important to allow smother and quicker journeys and reduces the risk of failure, that can lead to disruption.
The new sleepers, which are better adapted to the weather conditions than the current wooden ones, will be made of concrete, while all the track fastenings will also be replaced with the most modern ones as standard.
The new rails will be to the correct profile and will be laid by specialist track laying machinery before tamping and installation of the new operating equipment.
The track replacement works are due to be undertaken on the following dates:
- Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May
- Sunday 26, Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 May
- Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June
- Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June
- Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June
- Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July
The preference was to extend the works over Tuesday 28th May, the day after the bank holiday Monday, to not disrupt the expected heavy numbers of passengers that are predicted to use these lines on Saturday 25th May, with many heading for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a major rugby event is taking place there.
On site at the junction // Credit: Network Rail
Impact on train services
During the days listed above, there will be no London Overground services between Hackney Downs and Enfield Town / Cheshunt stations.
Replacement buses will instead be running and will start at Seven Sisters and head to both Enfield Town and Cheshunt.
During these times, it has been advised that passengers travelling to and from London Liverpool Street to Seven Sisters should use the London Underground or London Buses.
Customers intending to travel from Rectory Road and Stoke Newington are requested to start and finish their journeys from Clapton station on the Chingford line.
Hackney Downs station will remain open and will be served by Greater Anglia trains, while the Greater Anglia services that normally run via Seven Sisters will be diverted and will stop additionally at Tottenham Hale.
These works are separate from the upcoming bridge replacement works on the Chingford line, which are due to start later in the summer.
Improving the condition of this junction is essential for keeping trains on time in future, with some of the old track having been laid over 60 years ago. We’ll be making the most of the time we have available to install up-to-date equipment and deliver a reliability boost to these very busy lines.”
Simon Milburn, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director
Helping ensure our customers continue to receive a safe and reliable service is key for us here at Transport for London and these Network Rail track maintenance works will help ensure this will happen for many years to come. My advice is to plan ahead, check before you travel and allow extra time to complete your journey while this work is taking place.”
Rory O’Neill, TfL’s General Manager for London Overground,
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/north-london-buses-to-replace-trains-on-several-weekends.html
