'Madness' to close train station at this time

Many were caught unawares, with those heading for Stansted having to catch replacement buses.

Those going to Norwich and Cambridge had to take a coach to Colchester, while others were directed by station staff to the Tube, to catch trains from Seven Sisters or Fenchurch Street.

The station was closed yesterday and will remain shut until 2 January while engineers tear down a Victorian bridge in the path of the planned extension of the East London line.

Transport for London defended the timing, saying passenger numbers are down by between 40 and 80 per cent over the Christmas period.

But Sean Bermingham, 36, en route to Chelmsford from Singapore, said: "It seems mad to do it over the season when there must be a lot of people wanting to leave London."

Siobhan Chapman, 32, was trying to get to Norwich. She said: "I booked my ticket online and nowhere in the whole thing did I see a warning to people."

Her friend, 26-year-old Charlotte Webster, said: "It is not a very good idea at Christmas. I only found out about it because my mum looked and called me two days ago. If I wanted to get the coach I would have booked a ticket and paid a lot less."

George Preston, 22, of Hornsey, who was travelling to Colchester to see his family, said: "When I booked tickets to other places it said I could come this route so I thought it was still open. I expected the station to close over Christmas but I didn't realise it would be this early. There were no signs telling me what I should do."

The East London line extension is due to open in 2010. The 120-year-old disused iron and brick bridge is deemed unsafe and will be replaced with a steel structure.

Julie Dixon, of TfL, said the work was vital, adding: "We recognise that it will impact on passengers and residents over 10 days, but we will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum."

The station will reopen on January 2 at 4am. Check with local rail companies for details of replacement bus services.