LIVERPOOL Street station is to close for ten days during Christmas for vital engineering works, it has been revealed today.The project to demolish a 120-year-old dilapidated bridge nearby will mean the station has to close from December 23 to 4am on January 2.

LIVERPOOL Street station is to close for ten days during Christmas for vital engineering works, it has been revealed today.

The project to demolish a 120-year-old dilapidated bridge nearby will mean the station has to close from December 23 to 4am on January 2.

Transport for London announced today that the work is being carried out as part of a £1.4 billion investment that will see huge improvements to London's rail network including the rebuilding and extension of the East London Line as part of the new London Overground network.

Alternative travel arrangements will be put in place and compensation packages are being offered to residents affected by the work.

Julie Dixon, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Transport for London, said: “This work is vital to the completion of the East London Line that, as part of London Overground, will radically improve the capital's transport network.

“We recognise that it will impact on passengers and residents over these ten days, but we will be going to every possible length to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

“We are offering various alternative routes and are letting everyone know in good time. Residents affected by the work are being fully informed and consulted, and those affected will be offered temporary accommodation, double-glazing to protect them from noise and dust, and other forms of compensation.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Transport for London to minimise disruption and to give the travelling public the information that they need to plan their journeys this Christmas.

“We are keen to deliver the maximum benefit for passengers during the closure. Network Rail will therefore also be carrying out £7m of other improvements, which will mean better train services in and out of Liverpool Street Station in the future”.

At the same time as these improvements, Network Rail will carry out a programme of upgrade work, including the renewal of overhead lines and track, which will mean better train services in and out of Liverpool Street Station in the future.