Media centre

Tuesday 23 Aug 2022

Package of rail upgrades between Norwich and London this autumn

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Essential rail upgrades are to take place on the Great Eastern Main Line and several branch lines this autumn and in the lead up to Christmas.

Network Rail will carry out work at weekends starting from Sunday 11 September which includes:

• Renewal of three switches and crossings units at Witham which allow trains to change from one line to another, as well as overhead line, signalling and electrical works
• Track, level crossing and drainage work at Kelvedon
• Track renewal on the Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze lines
• Renewal of 22 wheel timbers that support the track at the River Stour
• Track renewal between Ipswich and Norwich
• Power supply work between Liverpool Street and Ingatestone

The work is essential to keep services running safely and reliably on these busy lines.

As a result of work between Chelmsford and Colchester, rail replacement buses will run on the following weekends:

• Sunday 11 September
• Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September
• Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September
• Saturday 1 October
• Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October
• Sunday 30 October (between Shenfield and Colchester)

A rail replacement service will also run on the Braintree branch line on these dates. The Marks Tey to Sudbury branch line will be affected on 24 and 25 September.

Work will take place between Colchester and Ipswich, on the Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze lines, and on the Harwich branch line on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November.

Additional work will take place on the Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze lines on the following weekends:

• Sunday 16 October
• Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October
• Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November
• Sunday 27 November

Rail replacement buses between Ipswich and Norwich will be in place on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October, as well as on Sunday 23 October, in order to allow for the renewal of worn-out track.

There will be work on the Felixstowe and East Suffolk lines on Sunday 2 October, with rail replacement between Ipswich and Woodbridge and Ipswich and Felixstowe.

On Saturday 12, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November, works will take place between Liverpool Street and Ingatestone on the power supply for the trains on this route. 

Passengers are advised to check how their journey will be affected before travelling.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “We’re carrying out this important work to improve reliability and to maintain the safe operation of the rail network on these busy lines. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out the improvements.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “These projects will help to improve punctuality and performance along busy parts of our network.

“We will be running a rail replacement bus service while the work takes place, so customers will be able to complete their journeys. Passengers should check before they travel and allow more time for their journey.

“We would like to thank customers for their patience while this work takes place.”

Full sized bicycles and e-scooters cannot be carried on rail replacement buses. Passengers are advised to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator.