Havering (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Network Rail is carrying out maintenance work in Upminster over three weekends, causing train service disruptions and affecting commuters in Havering.
Over the course of three weekends in February and March, Network Rail’s maintenance crews will be undertaking major work on the c2c line that connects London and Essex.
The project will involve repairing Chalkwell station, maintaining lineside vegetation at Basildon station in Essex, and erecting a retaining wall around an existing drainage culvert at Upminster.
What maintenance will be carried out with this engineering project in Upminster?
The track will undergo basic maintenance as well as repairs for any faults.
Mark Walker, Network Rail Anglia route infrastructure engineer, said:
“A well-maintained railway enables safety and efficiency.
While closing parts of a busy line isn’t ideal, these improvements are essential for both passenger and freight services.
We thank passengers for their patience during these necessary works.”
The weekends of February 15 and 16, February 22 and 23, and March 1 and 2 are when the work will be done.
It is advised that travelers who intend to use C2C services on these weekends check ahead of time and allow additional time to finish their trips.
During these dates, some sections of the C2C train network will have rail replacement buses operating.
Services will begin and end at Fenchurch Street and Laindon on Saturday, February 15. They will call at West Ham but not at Stratford.
Other services will use a different route between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness.
Services will take a different route on Sunday, February 16, and won’t stop at Liverpool Street, Stratford, West Horndon, Laindon, or Basildon.
Services will begin and end at Fenchurch Street and Laindon on Saturday, February 22. They will call at West Ham but not at Stratford.
Other services will use a different route between Fenchurch Street and Leigh-on-Sea.
Services will begin and end in Fenchurch Street and Laindon on Sunday, February 23. They will call at West Ham but not at Stratford.
In addition to making stops at Tilbury Town and East Tilbury, services will be expanded to Stanford-le-Hope.
There won’t be any services on Liverpool Street on Saturday, March 1, or Sunday, March 2, between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness via Rainham.
What other alternative rail services are provided to the commuters?
Using the c2c website or National Rail Enquiries, passengers are advised to review their schedule before departing.
Passengers should allow extra time for their journey because alternative train services might be busier than normal.
On the following routes, rail replacement services will be available: February 15 between Laindon and Pitsea; February 16 between Upminster and Pitsea via Laindon; February 22 between Laindon and Pitsea and Leigh-on-Sea and Shoeburyness; February 23 between Laindon and Shoeburyness and between Stanford-le-Hope and Shoeburyness; and March 1 and 2.
Jubilee line services between West Ham and Stratford are available to passengers with a valid ticket.
On March 1 and 2, there won’t be any District line service between Barking and Upminster.