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Thursday 21 Aug 2025

September works to help boost long-term reliability on London – Norwich line and Harwich branch

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Network Rail will be carrying out vital bridge and overhead line works on the Great Eastern main line and the Harwich branch line this September, meaning buses will replace trains on weekends.

The closures will allow engineers to replace a total of 66 old wheel timbers on the River Stour and Cattawade Creek bridges which carry the main line just outside Manningtree station. Wheel timbers are used to hold the rails in place across certain types of bridge and they gradually deteriorate over time. When wheel timbers are in a poor condition, there is a higher risk of track faults that could cause delays to passengers.

Work on overhead line equipment will also be taking place on the main line, with engineers replacing a wide range of key components between Colchester and Manningtree. Trains on the busy Great Eastern main line rely on overhead lines for their power, so it’s essential for reliability that old parts are swapped out for the latest and most reliable versions.

The same type of overhead line work will be taking place on the Harwich branch line, along with the replacement of 16 overhead line support masts, which are decades-old and are starting to lean to one side.

Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “We’re really sorry for the disruption, but these four September weekends will give us the time to complete a series of vital jobs that we simply can’t get done whilst trains are operating. We’ll be making the very most of our track access to keep the railway here running safely and reliably into the future.”

Martin Beable, managing director for Greater Anglia, said: “These works are essential to keep the railway running and make it fit for the future. A rail replacement service will run while Network Rail carry out these projects, and passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey. We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this work is carried out.”

Work will be taking place on the following dates:

• Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September
• Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September
• Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September
• Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September

On all of these dates (apart from before 14:30 on Sunday 21 September):

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

On Sunday 21 September, before 14:30:

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

Customers travelling between Ipswich and all stations to and from London Liverpool Street will need to travel by train between Ipswich and Stowmarket and then rail replacement buses between Stowmarket, Manningtree and Colchester. Trains will continue to operate between Colchester and London Liverpool Street. There will be no buses between Ipswich and Manningtree/Colchester.

Full journey details are available at greateranglia.co.uk / nationalrail.co.uk