Published on: Monday, 9 September 2019
Last updated: Monday, 9 September 2019
More trains will begin to operate between the new Meridian Water station in Enfield and Stratford from 9 September, delivering more seats for passengers.
It’s thanks to the completion of £170m of work by Network Rail to build 5.5km of new track and new platforms at Tottenham Hale and Northumberland Park so that two additional trains an hour are able to run between Stratford and Meridian Water.
Representatives from Greater Anglia, who manage the stations, Network Rail, London Economic Action Partnership, Greater London Authority and Enfield and Haringey councils, will mark the start of the additional services with an event at Meridian Water station at 10am on 9 September, before catching the 11.38am service to Stratford.
The increase in service frequency is the latest step in a programme of improvements which saw Meridian Water station open in June as part of a £6bn development of the area being led by Enfield Council.
Further upgrades for this part of the West Anglia line that runs from Stratford to Meridian Water, include:
• Improvements at Tottenham Hale station including a new platform and a new accessible footbridge with lifts and an escalator, reducing congestion around the station.
• Upgrades at Northumberland Park station, including building an additional platform and new step-free footbridge across the railway for passengers and the community.
•Refurbishing or replacing several rail bridges, upgrading signals, installing power cables and additional overhead power lines.
Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, said: “Thanks to the completion of the new section of track, people in the Lea Valley can now enjoy a more frequent service, including at weekends, as the third track provides the additional capacity that enables us to operate two additional trains per hour throughout the day between Meridian Water and Stratford.
“We are committed to improving rail travel for all customers working in partnership with local authorities, the London Economic Action Partnership and Network Rail and other key stakeholders.
“Further benefits will also follow with the introduction of our entire fleet of new trains, which are due to be rolled out across our network, including on Meridian Water services, by the end of 2020.”
Mark Budden, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “The additional train services marks the culmination of years of hard work to deliver improvements to passengers using the Lee Valley line.
“This collaborative programme shows how the rail industry can work together with external partners to fund and deliver rail upgrades that not only benefit passengers with more services and a more pleasant travelling experience, but also benefit the communities where they live through regeneration.”
The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, said: “This more frequent rail service will help drive the regeneration of our £6bn Meridian Water scheme and the improved connectivity will help local people take advantage of services, jobs and opportunities right across London.
“Enfield Council has invested more than £250 million of its own money to drive the Meridian Water project forward including £40 million in the new station.
“It is an exciting time with Meridian Water on track and gathering pace the new station opening and now the new more regular train service being delivered.”
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton Harris, said:
“Today’s announcement will mean more frequent flexible local services that pay dividends for those who use the trains day in day out.
“We have worked closely with Enfield Council and Network Rail to improve local rail connections to coincide with the extensive local investment in new housing.
“This is a win for local people and rail users and shows that, with proper investment, our railway network can expand and adapt to reflect the needs of passengers.”