Be warned service disruption due to Crossrail work
Major engineering work will take place in Acton over Christmas as part of the construction of a new train underpass needed to improve rail services in the area.
Over the Christmas period Network Rail will be installing a new junction on the tracks at Acton. The works are essential to help increase capacity and improve reliability along the Great Western main line ahead of Crossrail services beginning in 2018.
The Acton works must be completed when there are no trains on the affected lines so Network Rail will be working around the clock from 4pm on 24 December to 4.15am on 29 December 2012.
As a result of the work, services between London Paddington and Greenford will stop running from 8pm on Monday 24 December 2012 (Christmas Eve) and will resume on the morning of Wednesday 2 January 2013. No First Great Western services will be able to call at Acton Main Line, West Ealing, Hanwell, Drayton Green, Castle Bar Park, South Greenford and Greenford stations during this time. Alternative arrangements have been made to enable passengers to use tickets for these destinations on London Buses and London Underground.
Jorge Mendonça, Crossrail programme director, Network Rail, said: “The works at Acton are an important part of the Crossrail project and will help bring long-term benefits to passenger services. To minimise inconvenience as much as possible, the work will be undertaken at the least busy time of the year.
James Adeshiyan, senior project interface manager First Great Western, said: “This upgrade is vitally important to improve our customers’ travel experiences for the future. To minimise inconvenience as much as possible, the work is being done at the least busy time of the year and arrangements have been made to enable passengers to use tickets for these services on the tube and TfL buses. However, please plan your journey as there is the potential that these services will take you a little longer.”
When Crossrail services begin in 2018, even more trains will travel along the Great Western main line so work is needed to improve capacity in the area. The new Acton underpass – known as a diveunder – will allow freight trains to access Acton Freight Yard without crossing main line passenger tracks, helping improve rail capacity and provide a more reliable service for passengers.
For more information on how this work will affect rail journeys please visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk or call 08457 000 125.
29th November 2012