Published on: Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Last updated: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Rail passengers are reminded to check before they travel this Christmas and New Year, so they are aware of both earlier last train times on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and timetable changes due to bank holidays and major engineering works.
There are planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place over the festive period, so Greater Anglia has today (6 December) issued travel advice to passengers, urging customers to check before they travel and plan ahead.
The Great Eastern Main Line (GEML - which runs between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford, and London) and the West Anglia Main Line (WAML - which runs between Cambridge, Audley End, Bishop’s Stortford, and London) will simultaneously be heavily affected by major engineering work from Christmas Day to New Years Day inclusive.
There will be significant alterations to Greater Anglia services on these routes, with bus replacement services involved for journeys between some stations.
Norwich to Cambridge and Ipswich to Cambridge services will also be affected by major engineering in the Cambridge area on 27/28 December.
Customers can find all train times by using the journey planner on the Greater Anglia website or app.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said:
“While most of our services will be running between Christmas and New Year, so that people can continue to travel across East Anglia and beyond, there is major engineering work taking place on both main lines to and from London Liverpool Street from 25 December to 1 January inclusive.
“Network Rail’s programme of engineering work this Christmas is vital for improving and upgrading the infrastructure to enable Greater Anglia to continue operating a very punctual and reliable service in 2024. They are also progressing the key projects to provide new stations at Beaulieu Park, north of Chelmsford (on the GEML), and Cambridge South (on the WAML).
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the service alterations, and we urge passengers to check before they travel as some journeys may take longer than normal.”
Network Rail is planning to deliver a large package of construction programmes, track renewals, overhead line renewals, bridge demolitions, and maintenance to improve the railway across the east of England.
Katie Frost, Network Rail's route director for Anglia said:
“Our programme of engineering work this Christmas is critical for upgrading and maintaining the railway ahead of the new year when fewer passengers want to use our services. Our teams of 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 to build the two new stations on our route planned to open in 2025. I hope passengers can understand the need for the upgrades and I’d like to reassure them that we’ll be getting a huge amount done while trains aren’t running. I also want to say thank you to our lineside neighbours for bearing with us while we’re out working hard in their communities.”
Passengers should be aware that some additional services will be retimed. Details can be found via the journey planner on the Greater Anglia website or app. Closures to the Greater Anglia network are as follows:
Services will reduce in frequency from 19:00 across the Greater Anglia network.
All services will stop by 22:00 [except Stansted Express Services].
The final Stansted Express services are as follows:
- London Liverpool Street - Stansted Airport: 23:25
- Stansted Airport – London Liverpool Street: 23:45
No service.
Liverpool Street station will be closed. The Stansted Express will operate a half-hourly service between Tottenham Hale and Stansted Airport.
Ticket acceptance will be in place on the London Underground for passengers to travel between Tottenham Hale and London Liverpool Street. Passengers with tickets to ‘London Terminals’ must complete their journey at London Liverpool Street only.
The final Stansted Express services are as follows:
- Tottenham Hale- Stansted Airport: 23:15
- Stansted Airport – Tottenham Hale: 23:59
No service on any other routes.
Great Eastern Main Line
Major engineering work will take place between Shenfield and Witham from 27 December – 1 January. This will affect all services on the mainline.
Services from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, and Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect with the following rail replacement services:
- Fast direct bus service: Witham – Billericay [approximately 50 minutes]
- Stopping bus service: Witham – Billericay via Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford [approximately 65 minutes]
Connecting train services will operate between Billericay – London Liverpool Street via calling at Shenfield and Stratford.
For passengers travelling to/from Ingatestone station, a shuttle bus service will operate between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, and between Ingatestone and Shenfield.
Witham Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Billericay Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Cambridgeshire area engineering work
Major engineering work will affect all services in the Cambridge area.
Greater Anglia services will be affected between Audley End – Cambridge North.
Services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will terminate at Audley End.
Replacement bus services will run between Audley End and Cambridge North via Cambridge.
Norwich to Cambridge services will operate between Norwich and Cambridge North only, with buses between Cambridge and Cambridge North.
On the Ipswich to Cambridge route, a rail replacement bus service will replace trains between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. A train service will operate between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.
Kennett station is unable to be serviced by replacement buses. The service between Ipswich and Peterborough will call additionally at Kennett station instead.
Cambridge Station Car Park will be closed on Wednesday 27 December & Thursday 28 December.
Audley End Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Passengers should also be aware that other operators will also be affected. Further details can be found here.
Great Eastern Main Line
Major engineering work will take place between Shenfield and Witham from 27 December – 1 January. This will affect all services on the mainline.
Services from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, and Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect with the following rail replacement services:
- Fast direct bus service: Witham – Billericay [approximately 50 minutes]
- Stopping bus service: Witham – Billericay via Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford [approximately 65 minutes]
Connecting train services will operate between Billericay – London Liverpool Street calling at Shenfield and Stratford.
For passengers travelling to/from Ingatestone station, a shuttle bus service will operate between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, and between Ingatestone and Shenfield.
Witham Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Billericay Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Cambridgeshire area engineering work
Major engineering work will affect all services in the Cambridge area.
Greater Anglia services will be affected between Audley End – Cambridge North.
Services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will terminate at Audley End.
Replacement bus services will run between Audley End and Cambridge North via Cambridge.
Norwich to Cambridge services will operate between Norwich and Cambridge North only, with buses between Cambridge and Cambridge North.
On the Ipswich to Cambridge route, a rail replacement bus service will replace trains between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. A train service will operate between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.
Kennett station is unable to be serviced by replacement buses. The service between Ipswich and Peterborough will call additionally at Kennett station instead.
Cambridge Station Car Park will be closed on Wednesday 27 December & Thursday 28 December.
Audley End Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Passengers should also be aware that other operators will also be affected. Further details can be found here.
Great Eastern Main Line
Major engineering work will take place between Shenfield and Witham from 27 December – 1 January. This will affect all services on the mainline.
Services from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, and Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect with the following rail replacement services:
- Fast direct bus service: Witham – Billericay [approximately 50 minutes]
- Stopping bus service: Witham – Billericay via Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford [approximately 65 minutes]
Connecting train services will operate between Billericay – London Liverpool Street calling at Shenfield and Stratford.
For passengers travelling to/from Ingatestone station, a shuttle bus service will operate between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, and between Ingatestone and Shenfield.
Witham Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Billericay Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Cambridgeshire area engineering work
Major engineering work will affect all services in the Cambridge area.
Greater Anglia services will be affected between Audley End – Cambridge.
Services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will terminate at Audley End.
Replacement bus services will run between Audley End and Cambridge North. Customers for Cambridge should change at Cambridge North.
Audley End Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Passengers should also be aware that other operators will also be affected. Further details can be found here.
Great Eastern Main Line
Major engineering work will take place between Shenfield and Witham from 27 December – 1 January. This will affect all services on the mainline.
Services from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, and Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect with the following rail replacement services:
- Fast direct bus service: Witham – Billericay [approximately 50 minutes]
- Stopping bus service: Witham – Billericay via Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford [approximately 65 minutes]
Connecting train services will operate between Billericay – London Liverpool Street calling at Shenfield and Stratford.
For passengers travelling to/from Ingatestone station, a shuttle bus service will operate between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, and between Ingatestone and Shenfield.
Witham Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Billericay Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Cambridgeshire area engineering work
Major engineering work will affect all services in the Cambridge area.
Greater Anglia services will be affected between Audley End – Cambridge North.
Services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will terminate at Audley End.
Replacement bus services will run between Audley End and Cambridge North. Customers for Cambridge should change at Cambridge North.
Audley End Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Passengers should also be aware that other operators will also be affected. Further details can be found here.
Great Eastern Main Line
Major engineering work will take place between Shenfield and Witham from 27 December – 1 January. This will affect all services on the mainline.
Services from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, and Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect with the following rail replacement services:
- Fast direct bus service: Witham – Billericay [approximately 50 minutes]
- Stopping bus service: Witham – Billericay via Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford [approximately 65 minutes]
Connecting train services will operate between Billericay – London Liverpool Street calling at Shenfield and Stratford.
For passengers travelling to/from Ingatestone station, a shuttle bus service will operate between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, and between Ingatestone and Shenfield.
Witham Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Billericay Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Cambridgeshire area engineering work
Major engineering work will affect all services in the Cambridge area.
Greater Anglia services will be affected between Audley End – Cambridge North.
Services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will terminate at Audley End.
Replacement bus services will run between Audley End and Cambridge North. Customers for Cambridge should change at Cambridge North.
Audley End Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Passengers should also be aware that other operators will also be affected. Further details can be found here.
Great Eastern Main Line
Major engineering work will take place between Shenfield and Witham from 27 December – 1 January. This will affect all services on the mainline.
Services from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, and Braintree will terminate at Witham and will connect with the following rail replacement services:
- Fast direct bus service: Witham – Billericay [approximately 50 minutes]
- Stopping bus service: Witham – Billericay via Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford [approximately 65 minutes]
Connecting train services will operate between Billericay – London Liverpool Street calling at Shenfield and Stratford.
For passengers travelling to/from Ingatestone station, a shuttle bus service will operate between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, and between Ingatestone and Shenfield.
Witham Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Billericay Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Cambridgeshire area engineering work
Major engineering work will affect all services in the Cambridge area.
Greater Anglia services will be affected between Audley End – Cambridge.
Services between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge will terminate at Audley End.
Replacement bus services will run between Audley End and Cambridge North. Customers for Cambridge should change at Cambridge North.
Audley End Station Car Park will be partially closed between Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January.
Passengers should also be aware that other operators will also be affected. Further details can be found on the National Rail website.
Normal service.
Normal service.