Christmas work delivers a better railway for passengers

Rail teams across Anglia have delivered a range of engineering work over the festive period which has improved the railway for passengers.

While millions of people tucked into their Christmas dinners, hundreds of engineers were out in force to deliver major renewals projects, undertake maintenance and repairs at a time when the railway is generally much quieter.

Liverpool Street station: The UK’s busiest station, London Liverpool Street was closed for eight days to allow work to continue on the roof renewal project.

During that time, 224 roof panels above the concourse were replaced along with 53 access (maintenance) hatches.

Additionally, vital work to the roof’s rainwater drainage system was done so that the station can cope with more frequent and intense rain storms.

By the end of the eight days, a huge scaffolding frame was removed from platform 7/8 so passengers can see how the new roof panels are letting more light into the station.

Bethnal Green: While London Liverpool Street station was closed for Christmas, old sleepers and seven sets of points (the moveable sections of rail which allow trains to move between tracks) on the West Anglia main lines at Bethnal Green were renovated to improve reliability for Greater Anglia and and London Overground Weaver line passengers.

Cambridgeshire: Across Cambridge, Network Rail and signalling specialists have completed the second stage of the Cambridge re-signalling project (C3R).

Just after midnight on Christmas Day, the aging signalling panel in the Cambridge powered signal box (PSB) was switched off for the last time after over 40 years of service.

A message of “FAREWELL” was displayed on the panel while the old mechanical relay room fell silent.

Over 11 days, new digital workstations were installed and switched on while new computer equipment was switched on and tested to make sure the new control systems had successfully been integrated. 

The new digital workstations included the four track configuration for Cambridge South station for the first time.

New signals were also physically installed on gantries while old, redundant signalling cabinets were removed.

At Cambridge South station, work continued inside to fit out the electrical and mechanical systems of the new station which is expected to open later in 2026.

Other engineering work over the festive period: Track teams were out on site at Ipswich changing old timbers just outside the station and tamping (a process of packing the ballast under the track) over a 2.1km stretch

Further track work to replace the rails also took place near Great Bentley.

A new buffer stop was also installed at Clacton-on-Sea station for platform 4, providing a greater level of protection at the station.

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “We’ve delivered major renewals and repairs over the festive period and I want to take this opportunity to thank all our passengers, for their patience while we have completed these important engineering work across our network.

“There is never a good time to close the railway, but over Christmas the railway sees passenger numbers drop by 50 per cent and this is the best opportunity to complete as much work as we can when the railway is quieter than usual.”

Weekend engineering work across some routes will continue into 2026 and passengers can check their journey plans by visiting nationalrail.co.uk or the train operator websites.