No direct Stansted Express trains for five days this month

Stansted Express customers are advised to check before they make their August holiday plans as there will be no direct airport trains for two weekends and the August Bank holiday Monday - and the service is affected by strike action.

Travellers are advised to make alternative arrangements to get to the airport on these five days.

Greater Anglia is extending platforms at Broxbourne station so that the company’s new longer trains can call at the station.

As a result, a direct Stansted Express service will be unable to operate from London to Stansted Airport on Saturday August 13 and Sunday 14, Saturday August 20 and Sunday 21 and on Monday August 29.

There will be no rail replacement bus service for airport travellers on these dates due to high demand for buses. Only a very limited bus replacement service will be in place for passengers making local journeys. Buses are expected to be busy with long queues throughout the day.

On Sunday 14, Sunday 21 and Monday 29 August, a limited alternative rail service will be available between London and Stansted Airport, using Great Northern and Thameslink trains between Kings Cross and Cambridge and Greater Anglia and CrossCountry trains between Cambridge and Stansted Airport with a journey time of about two hours.

However, ASLEF strike actionby Stansted Express, Greater Anglia and Cross Country train drivers on Saturday 13 and national RMT rail strikes on 20 August means the alternative rail service via Kings Cross will not be available on those days. Passengers are advised to avoid travelling with Stansted Express and make alternative arrangements on these dates.

In addition, on Sunday 14 and 21 August, the service will start later as a knock-on effect of the strike.

Engineering work is also due to take place on Sunday 7 August. A rail replacement bus service will be available between Waltham Cross and Bishop’s Stortford on this date so Stansted Express customers are able to complete their journeys.

Greater Anglia is offering fee free changes if customers wish to travel on another day and refunds will also be available. Full information will be available at stanstedexpress.co.uk

David Metherell, Greater Anglia’s Head of Commercial Development, said: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused to customers by this engineering works and rail strikes, especially on the two weekends and the Bank Holiday when we’re unable to provide a rail replacement bus service.

“We are trying to give as much notice as possible so that people can make alternative travel arrangements to get to the airport while planning their holidays.

“Rail is a great way to travel to the airport as it’s usually fast, convenient and sustainable. However, just as when roads needs to be maintained and improved, so does the railway.

“The work extending Broxbourne station will enable us to run longer brand-new modern trains on all our network.

“No time is convenient for customers for work like this, but August is not our busiest time of year.”

Timetables for each of the periods of work will be published on the Stansted Express website and updates posted on the Stansted Express Facebook page.