Media centre

Thursday 11 Feb 2021

Planned track works mean more trains on time on the Great Eastern Main Line

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Track renewals and overhead line maintenance works will take place between Norwich and Ipswich later this month (February) to improve reliability on the Great Eastern Main Line.

Nearly 1.5 miles of rail will be replaced over two weekends between Norwich and Ipswich. The work can only take place when the line is closed and overhead line and track maintenance works have been planned at the same time to make full use of the closure.

Track gets worn from constant use by trains every day. Engineers carry out inspections and repairs but eventually the tracks need to be replaced to avoid faults that cause delays and cancellations.

The work will improve reliability and reduce the number of delays and cancellations on the whole line between Norwich and London.

Work begins on Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 February and continues on Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 March. A rail replacement service will be in operation.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This work is crucial to prevent delays and cancellations from track faults between Norwich and Ipswich, which will benefit all passengers travelling on the Great Eastern Main Line. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this work.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “This work will help improve punctuality on one of the key routes on our network. Rail replacement buses will operate while this work takes place, to ensure passengers are able to complete their journeys.

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

“Government advice at the moment is to stay at home and to only travel for essential reasons such as work, medical appointments and other legally permissible reasons. Our Safer Travel pledge highlights everything we are currently doing to help keep customers safe while travelling with us.”

Passengers are advised to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator.

 

Notes to Editors

Please see www.greateranglia.co.uk for the latest information or check the app.

Saturday, February 27, 2021

• buses will replace trains between Norwich and Stowmarket via Diss, and between Norwich and Ipswich via Diss.

Sunday, February 28, 2021

• buses will replace trains between Norwich and Ipswich all day.
• buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Felixstowe, and between Ipswich and Saxmundham all day. Connecting trains will operate between Saxmundham and Lowestoft.
• buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Ely and between Ipswich and Cambridge North all day. Connecting trains will operate between Ely and Peterborough, and between Cambridge North and Cambridge.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

• buses will replace trains between Norwich and Stowmarket via Diss, and between Norwich and Ipswich via Diss.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

• buses will replace trains between Norwich and Ipswich all day.
• buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Felixstowe, and between Ipswich and Woodbridge all day. Connecting trains will operate between Woodbridge and Lowestoft.
• buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Ely (replacing Peterborough services) and between Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds (replacing Cambridge services) all day. Connecting trains will operate between Ely and Peterborough, and between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.