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Wednesday 6 Sep 2017

New track to be installed at Ipswich and Colchester to improve reliability on the main line into London

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Network Rail’s orange army will be out in force, installing new track in the Ipswich and Colchester areas on the main line into London at weekends in September and October to make services more reliable and reduce delays for the millions of people that travel on this route every year.

A total of 274 metres of new track will be installed between Stowmarket and Manningtree during the first two weekends. Following that, a total of four switches and crossings units, the moveable sections of track that guide trains from one track to another and allow them to cross paths, will be installed between Marks Tey and Witham.

Over time track experiences wear and tear from constant use, especially on the busy main line, and needs to be replaced to keep services on the move and improve reliability.

The ballast, stones that form the track bed, will also be replaced over the five weekends to improve drainage. This helps keep the track in good condition meaning fewer delays for passengers.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “This work is essential to improve reliability and keep services running smoothly on this busy main line as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. I understand that closing the line is inconvenient and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this work. Passengers are advised to check before they travel at weekends.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We’ll make sure customers can complete their journeys while this vital engineering work is taking place. We’ll have about 50 buses a day and extra staff at stations to make sure customers catch the right bus on each day of engineering work.”

Rail replacement services will run between Stowmarket and Colchester on Sundays 17 September and Sunday 24 September. Passengers travelling between Ipswich and Woodbridge and Felixstowe will also be affected.

From Saturday 30 September, work begins between Witham and Marks Tey, affecting anyone travelling between Witham and Colchester. Rail replacement bus services will be in place, including a direct bus between Witham and Colchester and a separate local service which will stop at Kelvedon and Marks Tey.

Important upgrades for the Crossrail programme and work to install new overhead wires will also take place on the line between Norwich and London at weekends from October to December and over a ten-day period at Christmas. Passengers should check how their journey will be affected at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator ahead of travelling.