Passengers wishing to travel by rail this Christmas are being encouraged to check before travelling as extensive engineering work will be taking place across Cambridgeshire.
Major station construction programmes, track renewals, overhead line renewals, bridge demolitions and maintenance will be taking place over Christmas as part of a large package of engineering work to keep the railway running reliably for passengers.
At Cambridge South, a new track realignment will allow the construction of the station platforms to be delivered into the new year. There will also be work to the overhead line and signalling equipment and the new station building will continue to be constructed.
The Cambridge resignalling team will be installing signal gantries, and associated signalling equipment between Cambridge and Ely.
General maintenance work will be taking place across the network to take advantage of existing closures of the railway on December 25 and 26 and maximise the amount of time Network Rail has complete surveys, inspections and repairs.
Network Rail's route director for Anglia, Katie Frost said: “Our programme of engineering work this Christmas is critical for upgrading and maintaining the railway ahead of the new year.
“Our engineers, maintenance crews, contractors and surveyors will be out on track over the entire Christmas period delivering this important work.
“We have a significant Christmas programme this year, particularly around Cambridge and Chelmsford to continue building new stations planned to open in 2025.
“I’d like to reassure passengers that we’ll be getting a huge amount done while trains aren’t running and I want to say thank you to our lineside neighbours for bearing with us while we’re out working hard in their communities.”
Service alternations on the Great Eastern and West Anglia main lines and Essex Thameside railway.
Sunday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
Greater Anglia services will see an early shutdown on Sunday, December 24 with a reduction in services from 19:00 and all services stopping by 22:00.
The exception to this is the Stansted Express service between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. The last train to Stansted will depart London Liverpool Street at 23:25. The last train from Stansted airport will depart at 23:45 arriving in London at 00:36 on Christmas Day.
Great Northern services from London to Kings Lynn via Cambridge, and Thameslink services from Brighton and London to Cambridge, will be affected by engineering works between Potters Bar and Royston. Replacement buses will be operating until the end of service, which will be earlier at around 21:00.
Passengers are encouraged to check last train times if travelling on Christmas Eve to avoid missing the last trains.
December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 26 (Boxing Day)
No train services will operate on the network on Christmas Day.
No trains or rail replacement bus services will run on any other routes.
Greater Anglia, Great Northern/Thameslink and Cross Country services between London and Ely – December 27 to January 1, 2024 (New Year's Day)
Major engineering work to deliver Cambridge South station and the Cambridge Re-signalling programme will be continuing from December 25 to January 1, 2024, affecting services between Ely, Cambridge, Royston and Stansted Airport.
Greater Anglia trains from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge will start/terminate at Audley End, connecting into rail replacement bus services to/from Cambridge North via Cambridge.
Greater Anglia trains between Norwich and Stansted Airport will start/terminate at Cambridge North on December 27 and 28, then starting/terminating at Cambridge from December 29 until January 1.
Cross Country passengers will be able to use a rail replacement bus service between Ely and Stansted airport via Cambridge on December 27 and 28, and between Cambridge and Stansted airport from December 29 to January, 1 2024.
Great Northern and Thameslink trains between London and Royston will run to an amended timetable. On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 December passengers will be able to connect to rail replacement bus services between Royston, Cambridge and Cambridge North. On Friday 29 through to Monday January 1 buses will replace trains between Royston and Cambridge. An additional direct bus service will operate between Royston and Cambridge North to connect with rail services to / from Kings Lynn.
All passengers are encouraged to check their journey plans before travelling with National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.
Buses may be busier than usual, and passengers should allow extra time for your journey.
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