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Wednesday 28 Oct 2026

Essential railway improvements planned this November in Essex and Suffolk

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Passengers are being urged to plan ahead this November as GBR Anglia carries out a series of essential engineering works to improve reliability, maintain the railway and prepare for major track renewals over Christmas.

The programme includes a major platform renewal at Bures station, track maintenance at key locations across Essex and Suffolk, and preparatory work ahead of significant Christmas engineering works at Forest Gate and Stratford. While the projects will require some weekend service changes, they will help reduce failures, improve reliability and maintain a safe railway for passengers and freight.

At Bures station specifically, we are investing £1m in platform upgrade work including full replacement of the platform deck and associated works to improve safety. This work will also improve accessibility and the long-term condition of the platform while maintaining its existing layout and appearance. 

The planned engineering work includes:

• Replacing wheel timbers, general maintenance, vegetation management and tamping on the Harwich Town branch line 
• Platform upgrade work at Bures station 
• Rerail and track maintenance at Marks Tey and Kelvedon 
• Preparation work on the Great Eastern main line in advance of Christmas track engineering work at Forest Gate and Stratford as well as track treatment and maintenance 
• General maintenance of the Southend Victoria and Southminster line

Martin Beable, Chief Operating Officer for GBR Anglia said: “These projects are part of our ongoing investment in a safer, more reliable railway by renewing track, maintaining key infrastructure and investing in our stations, as well as preparing for major Christmas renewals at Forest Gate and Stratford.

“We know service changes can be inconvenient, and I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while this essential work takes place. We're working together to minimise disruption wherever possible, and we'd encourage passengers to check their journeys before travelling as some services will be replaced by buses on affected routes and dates.”

Travel information

Train services on parts of the Great Eastern Main Line, Harwich branch, Braintree branch, Sudbury branch, Southend Victoria line and Southminster line will be affected on selected weekends throughout November, with replacement buses operating on some routes. Greater Anglia passengers are being encouraged to check before travelling and to allow more time to complete their journeys.

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November

Saturday-Sunday: Buses replace trains between Sudbury and Marks Tey.

Sunday only: Buses replace trains between Ipswich and Colchester and between Manningtree and Harwich Town. Trains will continue to operate between Norwich and Ipswich as well as between Colchester and London Liverpool Street

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November

Saturday-Sunday: Buses replace trains between Braintree and Witham. Buses also replace trains between Sudbury and Marks Tey

Sunday only: Buses replace trains between Colchester and Ingatestone (for journeys to / from London), Colchester and Chelmsford (for intermediate journeys). Trains will continue operate between Norwich / Clacton-on-Sea and Colchester Town as well as Chelmsford and Liverpool Street, via Ingatestone, connecting in / out of rail replacement bus services.

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November

Buses replace trains between Ingatestone/ Southend Victoria and Newbury Park (TfL Central Line station) - tickets accepted between Newbury Park and Stratford / Liverpool Street. Buses also replace trains between Southminster and Wickford. Trains will continue to operate between Norwich / Ipswich / Clacton and Shenfield (via Ingatestone connecting into rail replacement buses).