Trains will not run on a section of London Overground track for more than two weeks during the height of summer.

Network Rail has said that work to replace a 150-year-old railway bridge that holds the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road in Hackney began last month.

Track carrying the Overground branch between Hackney Downs and Chingford stations runs under the bridge.

This section of the line will be closed for 16 straight days from July 20 until August 4 while demolition of the existing bridge and the construction of a new bridge take place.

Transport bosses have said the work has become essential as the bridge’s cast iron girders are in poor condition, and are “continuing to deteriorate”.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: A view under the existing bridge A view under the existing bridge (Image: Network Rail)

The works will cause widespread disruption along the line, and there will be no service to or from Clapton, St James Street, Walthamstow Central, Wood Street, Highams Park and Chingford stations.

Passengers wanting to travel between Liverpool Street and Hackney Downs will be able to use London Overground services running to and from Enfield Town and Cheshunt.

But these services may have different timetables over the closure period, so regular passengers are advised to check their journey before setting off.

Greater Anglia services will also be impacted by the works.

Those that usually run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and finish at Stratford instead.

The usual Stratford to Meridian Water service will not run, but other services will make additional stops at both Meridian Water and Northumberland Park. 

Liverpool Street to Cambridge and Stansted Airport services will be diverted and call at Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale.

Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford services will not operate, with passengers advised to use alternative services.

Train services will also be impacted on seven dates while preparatory and follow-up works are carried out.

These are as follows – June 23, July 13-14, August 17-18, September 1 and September 8.

Downs Park Road is already shut off for motorists, and this will be extended to pedestrians and cyclists from July.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: An artist's impression of the new bridge under construction An artist's impression of the new bridge under construction (Image: Network Rail)

The project is expected to be completed, and Downs Park Road fully reopened, by early next year.

Network Rail has said that the new bridge is designed to last for 120 years.

Simon Milburn, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director, said: “Thousands of people travel under and over this bridge every day by rail and road, and our project is vital to keeping their future journeys safe and reliable.

“We’re sorry for the disruption this summer but we’ll be working flat out to deliver a replacement bridge that will serve the community for generations to come.”