Passengers urged to avoid rail travel during Sunday bridge removal near Watford

Passengers travelling between London, the West Midlands, North West England and Scotland are being urged to avoid rail travel on Sunday 20 September until 4pm, when Network Rail will remove the unsafe Oxhey Grange footbridge near Watford.

The bridge crosses the West Coast Main Line south of Watford Junction. It was closed on 26 July after routine inspections found that it had deteriorated more quickly than expected.

Network Rail will close all four West Coast Main Line tracks and the adjacent London Overground Lioness line from midnight on Saturday 19 September until 4pm on Sunday 20 September.

The footbridge will be lifted out in one operation using a specialist 100-metre-tall heavy-lift crane with a lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes. Network Rail says this will reduce the time the railway needs to remain closed compared with other removal methods.

Preparatory work is already under way, including structural monitoring, site surveys and construction of a platform for the crane. Temporary speed restrictions are also in place beneath the bridge.

Journeys between London Euston and Watford Junction will be affected during the closure:

• Avanti West Coast services to and from Scotland and North West England will start and finish at Milton Keynes Central, with additional services starting and finishing at Rugby.
• London Northwestern Railway services will run between Milton Keynes Central and stations to the north. An hourly shuttle will run between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction.
• London Overground’s Lioness line will run two trains an hour between Euston and Willesden Junction.
• London Underground’s Bakerloo line will operate normally.

Rail replacement buses and alternative rail routes will be available for passengers travelling between England and Scotland, but journeys will take longer than usual. Passengers should check before travelling and allow extra time.

Updated timetables for Sunday 20 September are due to appear in journey planners from Monday 7 September.

“Following a routine safety inspection, Network Rail closed the footbridge at Oxhey Grange after identifying significant deterioration of the structure. The safety of residents, bridge users, railway colleagues and passengers remains our top priority, and further assessments have shown the bridge now needs to be removed as soon as possible.”

Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s director for the West Coast South route, said the railway would be reopened as quickly as possible after the operation.

“We know this work will disrupt journeys on Sunday 20 September and we're sorry for the inconvenience. By using a specialist heavy-lift crane, we're able to remove the bridge in a single operation and reopen the railway as quickly as possible. Passengers are advised to avoid travel until 4pm and allow extra time for their journeys.”

Network Rail is also developing proposals for a replacement crossing and says it will engage with local residents and other stakeholders as the work progresses.

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway, said rail replacement buses would run and urged passengers to plan their routes in advance.

“This work is crucial for maintaining the safety of the railway and I would like to thank customers for their patience while Network Rail carries out the operation.”

“Rail replacement buses will be running and we are working closely with industry partners to offer alternative rail routes for those travelling to and from London. I encourage anyone planning to travel on the affected date to plan their route in advance and leave extra time for their journey.”

Avanti West Coast has also advised customers to avoid travelling to or from London on Sunday 20 September where possible, and to consider travelling on another date using their existing ticket.