Network Rail is continuing with a £250 million overhead line upgrade project on the Great Eastern Main Line.

Around 320km of overhead cables will be replaced on the route which connects Norwich, Suffolk and Essex with London Liverpool Street. The project is due to be completed by 2019.

The wires, which expand and sag when temperatures rise, will be replaced with new material which is not affected by the heat.

The project got underway in March 2014 and so far has seen 87km of new wire installed, with 21km delivered between Chelmsford and London Liverpool Street.


Work is now underway to replace a further 32km of wire between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street before the end of the year, including a large section of wire at Gidea Park.

Jamie Burles, managing director for Abellio Greater Anglia, said: "We are very pleased that the project to replace the overhead wires on the Great Eastern Main Line is progressing well and we welcome the positive impact this initiative will have on our customers' journeys.

"The benefits of the new equipment will be improved reliability and overhead lines that don't sag in the heat - thereby avoiding the imposition of speed restrictions on hot days and enabling us to deliver a more punctual train service."

(LM/MH)