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Monday 11 Nov 2024

Weekend track renewal on East Suffolk Line starts end of November

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Engineers will be renewing a 2200 metre section of the East Suffolk line for three weekends from end of November to improve reliability and giving a smoother ride for passengers.

As part of a wider programme of track renewal along the East Suffolk line, engineering work taking place between Westerfield and Saxmundham will renew almost 4.5 kilometres of old jointed rail and replace it with continuously welded rail. Over 3400 new concrete sleepers and over 7000 tonnes of ballast together with new decks for three-foot crossings will also be replaced.

Replacing jointed track with continuously welded rail reduces noise from trains and gives passengers a much smoother ride. It also helps to reduce the amount of maintenance required and this work will facilitate future freight traffic delivering materials to the Sizewell C project.

The track work will affect Greater Anglia train services on the following weekends:

• Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December
• Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December
• Sunday 15 December

Buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Saxmundham on these dates to allow passengers to continue their weekend journey. Trains will continue to operate between Lowestoft and Saxmundham.

Mark Walker,  Network Rail’s route infrastructure engineer for Anglia said: “We’re continuing our work to replace the old jointed-track on the East Suffolk line with new rail, that will benefit passengers and our freight customers.

“Of course, doing this work safely means we have to close a section of the line for a few weekends to remove the old track and deliver the materials required to complete the job. I want to thank everyone for their patience while we carry out this important work.”

Martin Beable, Greater Anglia managing director, said: "This engineering work is essential to keep the railway running and make it fit for the future.

"A rail replacement service will run while the work takes place, and passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey.”