From the Thurrock Gazette 04/04/2009

THURROCK is set to benefit from a multi-million pound package of improvements to the two main train lines in south Essex.

Network Rail has launched a five year blueprint which will look at making train services more efficient and ease commuter overcrowding.

This includes extensions to platforms on the Tilbury loop and upgrades to overheard cables.

Chairman of Southend Railway Users' Association Peter Slattery said: "It is a lot of money and welcome news. It is over the next five years but really a lot of these improvements are needed now.

"Extensions to platforms on the Tilbury loop and upgrades to overheard cables have been needed for some time.

“The overhead wires have come down a few times in the past which causes delays.

“Platforms on the Tilbury loop, including Grays, can only take eight car trains and are busy stations.

"I hope that the engineering works are planned well to cause minimum disruption to commuters and weekend users.”

Thurrock Rail-Users Group spokesman, Adrian Brown, said: "We would add our voice to that of the Southend group in heartily welcoming the confirmation that platform lengthening, to equip all remaining stations on the route for 12-coach trains, is included in the 2009-14 programme, though we would further welcome confirmation that the actual date for this will be no later than what is only currently a proposed date (2011).

“However, as yet there has been no confirmation from either the Department for Transport or the train operating company - whose franchise expires in 2011 anyway unless this is extended - as to whether or when the additional trains will be allocated to make full use of them.

“Currently there aren't even enough carriages on the line to enable the recent eight-car extension at Grays to be properly used, to start getting the benefits from that investment by relieving the overcrowded four-car services that we still suffer at times.”

Work on the Anglia region will see £1bn spent on renewing track, signalling, bridges and telecoms systems.

More than £120m will be spent on renewing and upgrading overhead power lines on the Great Eastern Main Line between Liverpool Street and Chelmsford and Southend.

Platform extensions to allow longer, 12-car trains from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Tilbury, at a cost of £20.2m, will also be included.

A further £67m will be spent to double passenger services on the North London Line ahead of the Olympic Games in 2012.

Improvements will be made stations across the county including East Tilbury, Shoeburyness, Chalkwell, Thorpe Bay, Billericay, Rayleigh, Southend Victoria and Wickford.