Rail users in and around Hertford are being warned to expect a prolonged closure of the Hertford East branch this October while engineers carry out essential remedial work following severe flooding late last year.
What is happening
From Saturday 17 October to Sunday 25 October there will be no trains between Hertford East, Ware, St Margarets and Rye House. The work involves the removal and replacement of approximately 1km of rails, sleepers and ballast on the stretch through Rye House station that was inundated after a burst Thames Water sewer pipe in December 2025. That incident led to a near-week-long closure at the time while crews managed the flooding and undertook an initial clean-up.
Network Rail and operating partners say the full replacement is required to make the route resilient for the long term. The new track is expected to have a design life of more than 50 years, and engineers will take advantage of the planned closure to complete outstanding repairs at St Margarets station.
- Complete replacement of 1km of track (rails, sleepers and ballast).
- Repair and resurfacing of Platform 1 at St Margarets following earlier ground stabilisation work.
- Service suspended on the Hertford East branch for nine consecutive days to allow the work to be carried out safely.
Local impact and planning
The closure will affect daily commuters, school and college travellers, and those making leisure journeys to and from Hertford and neighbouring towns. Operators have advised passengers to plan ahead but have not set out a full replacement transport timetable in the announcement itself; passengers are urged to check for detailed arrangements nearer the time.
“It’s essential that we replace the track through Rye House station following last year’s major floods on our infrastructure. There’s never a good time to close the railway, especially for an extended period like this, but this is a big job that we must get done to keep providing the best possible service on the Hertford East branch. We’re really sorry for the disruption, and advise that passengers start planning ahead if possible.”
— Martin Beable, Chief Operating Officer for GBR Anglia
GBR Anglia, the unified structure that brings together c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia, said the organisations are increasingly coordinating as a single railway to enable faster decision-making and more joined-up delivery of works.
Summary timetable and stations affected
Below is a concise summary of the closure period and the stations named in the announcement.
| Closure dates | Stations affected |
|---|---|
| 17–25 October | Hertford East, Ware, St Margarets, Rye House |
Local passengers will want to allow extra time for journeys on those dates and to check operator websites and station notices for replacement bus services and any planned diversions. The works follow the December 2025 incident when a burst Thames Water sewer pipe flooded the tracks at Rye House, prompting immediate reactive repairs and a later decision that the infrastructure needed a complete renewal to ensure continued safety and reliability.
For residents and businesses in Hertford the closure is a reminder of how single incidents of severe flooding can lead to prolonged disruption to essential services. The replacement track and platform repairs are intended not only to restore normal operations but to reduce the risk of future closures by renewing materials and stabilising structures affected by the 2025 event.
Further operational details, including any replacement transport provision, are expected to be published by operators and Network Rail in the coming weeks. Passengers are advised to monitor official channels for the latest information.
