Anglia structures

We are responsible for maintaining many structures which either support or cross the railway including road and rail bridges as well as pedestrian/cycle/equestrian bridges which provide safe access across the tracks.

Many structures date back to the Victorian period and require a lot of repair and maintenance to make sure they are fit for purpose. In some circumstances, the old structures may need a complete replacement to cope with modern demands.

Our engineers and maintenance teams plan works in advance to make sure the bridge structures continue to meet the demands of the railway and intersecting road network. This work can include:

• refurbishment, which involves removing corrosion, repainting and resurfacing as well as replacing any lighting systems
• strengthening, which involves welding new steel to a structure to improve its structural strength
• replacement, which involves the full replacement of a life expired structure with a whole new bridge

Downs Park Road bridge replacement

In 2024/2025, we are replacing a 150-year-old bridge over the railway in Hackney, London. The bridge is located to the south of Hackney Downs Park and carries the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road. It backs directly onto a tunnel, which emerges further down the line towards Clapton.

The bridge is monitored closely to check it is safe, but its cast iron girders are in poor condition, and they are continuing to deteriorate. A replacement structure is needed to avoid an unplanned closure and keep passengers and road users moving in future.

A critical stage of the project is taking place between Saturday 20 July – Sunday 4 August 2024, when our contractors will demolish the bridge and start building the new one.

Over these 16 consecutive days, there will be no London Overground service in either direction between Hackney Downs and Chingford. There will also be changes to Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services between London – Hertford East, Cambridge and Stansted Airport. Find out more about how your journey may be affected at National Rail.

The bridge is closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The project is expected to be completed, and Downs Park Road fully reopened, by early 2025.

List of significant structures work

Below is a list of significant structures work during this current five-year investment cycle, Control Period 7 (2024-2029), to ensure that we maintain the railway for current and future passengers.

The work listed above represents the most significant structures activities in our CP7 work bank which contains hundreds of planned minor activities that take place to maintain all our structures across the Anglia route. Please note all dates are subject to change.

Timelapse footage

Timelapse films by contractor Murphy showing replacement of life expired rail bridges at Christian Street and Morris Street (near Shadwell station) that carry the line out of Fenchurch Street station through East London and out to Essex. Completed during Christmas 2021.

Neasden bridge

Timelapse film by contractor Murphy showing replacement of a life expired rail over rail bridge in North London during Christmas 2021.

Contact Us

If you have any enquiries or questions about our structures work, please contact the 24/7 helpline team on 0345 711 4141 or visit our Contact Us page.

You can also follow us on Twitter @NetworkRailANG