Line reopens after work to replace flooded tracks

A busy railway branch line has reopened following work to replace about half a mile of tracks.

A burst Thames Water sewer pipe flooded the lines at Rye House station, Hertfordshire, in December.

The track was replaced over nine days, with the work completed on Sunday.

While the work was being done, there were no trains serving Hertford East, Ware, St Margarets or Rye House.

Martin Beable, of Great British Railways – Anglia, had previously apologised for the disruption and said that there was "never a good time to close the railway, especially for an extended period".

Following the flooding last year, the line was closed for nearly a week for a clean-up.

Some repairs were made to the railway at the time but Network Rail said more work was required to make the route "fit for the future".

Rails, sleepers and ballast – the stones below the track – have now been replaced, and it is hoped the new track will last for more than 50 years.

The platform was also repaired and resurfaced.

During the recent nine-day closure, engineers finished upgrading Platform 1 at St Margarets station.

They also carried out maintenance on the footbridge.

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