Christmas and New Year are fast approaching (best get that shopping done!), and Greater Anglia have issued a reminder of their travel advice for over the festive period.

Although most of their services remain unaffected by engineering works, and with only minor changes to work days between Christmas and New Year, several changes to normal trains will be taking place, for which revised timetables can be found under the “service alterations” section of the Greater Anglia website, on the Greater Anglia app, and on Twitter. A summary of the affected services can be found below.

From the last train on Christmas Eve (which is planned to be earlier than usual, ending at approx 10PM) until the end of New Year’s Day, Network Rail have planned engineering works on the Great Eastern Mainline at Colchester, and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

Additionally, they will be  re-wiring of the overhead wires on the Southend branch with major works taking place at Wickford. As part of the seasonal holidays, and/or as consequence of the engineering works, the following services will be affected:

25/12/2019
– No services will operate.
26/12/2019
– Revised Stansted express service planned, no other services operational.
27/12/2019
– Ipswich-London and Clacton-London services will call at Colchester and other intermediate stations as normal.
– West Anglia services to/from Stratford will be diverted to Liverpool Street via Hackney Downs.
– The service between Stratford, Lea Bridge, Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park and Meridan Water will not run.
– A bus replacement service will operate between Southend, Southminster and Shenfield or Newbury Park.
28/12/2019
– Trains from Norwich, Ipswich and Clacton will only run as far as Ingatestone. Bus replacement service to operate between Ingatestone and Newbury Park, where Greater Anglia customers can use their tickets on the Central Line to Stratford and London Liverpool Street.
– West Anglia services to/from Stratford will be diverted to Liverpool Street via Hackney Downs.
– The service between Stratford, Lea Bridge, Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park and Meridan Water will not run.
– A bus replacement service will operate between Southend, Southminster and Shenfield or Newbury Park.
29/12/2019
– Trains from Norwich, Ipswich and Clacton will only run as far as Ingatestone. Bus replacement service to operate between Ingatestone and Newbury Park, where Greater Anglia customers can use their tickets on the Central Line to Stratford and London Liverpool Street.
– West Anglia services to/from Stratford will be diverted to Liverpool Street via Hackney Downs.
– The service between Stratford, Lea Bridge, Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park and Meridan Water will not run.
– A bus replacement service will operate between Southend, Southminster and Shenfield or Newbury Park.
30/12/2019
– Ipswich-London and Clacton-London services will call at Colchester and other intermediate stations as normal.
– A bus replacement service will operate between Southend, Southminster and Shenfield or Newbury Park.
31/12/2019
– Ipswich-London and Clacton-London services will call at Colchester and other intermediate stations as normal.
– A bus replacement service will operate between Southend, Southminster and Shenfield or Newbury Park.
01/01/2020
– Bank holiday timetables in place.
– No services through Colchester. Bus replacement service to operate between Ipswich, Manningtree, Colchester and Marks Tey on the main line and between Hythe and Marks Tey on the route from Colchester to Clacton on Sea.
02/01/2020
– Normal service resumes.

Customers are advised to use local bus services where no alternative route or rail replacement bus is available, such as passengers wishing to use the cancelled service between Stratford, Lea Bridge, Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park and Meridan Water.

What did the officials say?

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said:

“We’re pleased that most of our services will be running between Christmas and New Year so that people can travel to visit loved ones, enjoy the sales, or enjoy a day out.

“However, because the railway tends to be much quieter over this period, it is also a good opportunity for Network Rail to get on with some really essential upgrade work that will help services operate reliable and punctually in the future.

“If you are travelling with us, please do check before you travel as some journeys make take longer than normal or arrive or depart at different times than usual.

“If there is engineering works on your journey, we will be working hard to make sure that you can still complete your journey, even if part of it is by bus”

Mark Budden, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said:

“Most of the railway network is open over Christmas, but some routes will be closed for engineering works to continue to provide a safe and reliable railway for passengers. For those wishing to travel over the festive period, my advice is to plan ahead and check with Greater Anglia or National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information.”

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