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Thursday 23 Mar 2023

REMINDER: Check before travelling this Easter if using the railway between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London via Marks Tey and Ingatestone

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Passengers travelling between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London via Marks Tey/Braintree and Ingatestone over Easter are advised to check before they travel, as Network Rail will carry out essential engineering work on Sunday 9 April and Monday 10 April.

Engineering work will continue on the mainline to facilitate construction activity for the new Beaulieu Park station, wheel timber renewal work on Feering bridge in Kelvedon and track work at Witham to reduce risk of failures of switches and crossing (the moveable bits of track that allow trains to change tracks) and improve reliability for rail services.

To allow passengers to complete their journeys on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, a rail replacement bus service will replace trains between Ingatestone and Marks Tey, and between Witham and Braintree.

Trains will operate between Norwich and Marks Tey, between Clacton/Colchester Town and Colchester, between Sudbury and Marks Tey & between Chelmsford and London (via Ingatestone).

Much of the rail network will remain free of engineering work and open for travel during the Easter long weekend, but with some early and late services being curtailed to allow extended overnight maintenance to take place.

Passengers travelling with Greater Anglia rail services are advised to check their plans with their train operator or on nationalrail.co.uk and leave extra time to complete their journey.

Katie Frost Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This year, most of the network will be available for passengers to enjoy days out by rail throughout the Easter holidays.

Those planning to travel via Chelmsford, especially on 9/10 April, should check how their journey might be affected. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this important work for the new Beaulieu Park station and general track renewal work at Witham to improve reliability on this busy mainline.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “People can visit many great destinations by rail this Easter break.

“Nevertheless, there will still be some maintenance and upgrade schemes taking place. These essential works will help improve rail travel in the region and we would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while the improvements are being undertaken. Rail replacement buses will operate so customers can complete their journeys. Customers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys.”

Greater Anglia would like to remind customers that full-sized bicycles and e-scooters can not be carried on rail replacement buses.

Look ahead to May Bank Holidays

Greater Anglia passengers are also advised to check their journey plans for May and the early and late May bank holidays if travelling between Marks Tey and Ingatestone as engineering work for the new station will continue to affect weekend rail services.