Important rail upgrade work will take place on the Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze branch line over the upcoming Late May Bank Holiday weekend.
Engineers will carry out maintenance and replace components on the Clacton-on-Sea branch as part of a package to increase reliability.
Bridge track supports will be replaced as part of the work between Thorpe-le-Soken and Clacton-on-Sea. In addition, new rails will be installed at Weeley.
This work means that a rail replacement bus service will operate between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea / Walton-on-the-Naze between Saturday 22nd May 2020 and Tuesday 25th May.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: “Our teams are carrying out vital upgrades and maintenance work to keep the rail network running safely and smoothly and reduce the number of delays and cancellations. This will benefit those who need to travel now and improve reliability for when more passengers return. Those who need to travel by train should check how their journey will be affected and follow the latest government advice on travelling.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia's managing director, said: “Government advice is still to only travel if it's absolutely necessary. We will run a rail replacement bus service for key workers and those who do need to make essential journeys and measures will be in place to help people socially distance. Anyone who does need to make an essential journey should follow government advice and use a face covering. We would like to thank customers for their patience, and both Network Rail and Greater Anglia staff for their continued hard work and dedication in keeping the railway running.”
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And Network Rail should continue with the overhead wiring renewal works with replacing the ageing overhead wires at Maryland & Stratford in East London.
And to replacing the ageing overhead wires on the LTS line (Fenchurch Street-Bromley-by-Bow/West Ham) and Ardwick Junction-Gosslop & Hatfield (including Guide Bridge).
Maybe in the future. Perhaps reopen the disused platform at Thorpe-le-Soken for train coming from London Liverpool Street, Colchester and Colchester Town to use heading towards Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze. And the other 2 current platforms to be used for trains from Clacton-on-Sea & Walton-on-the-Naze heading towards Colchester Town, Colchester and London Liverpool Street.
And perhaps build a brand new railway station near to Clacton Outlet Village just like Braintree Outlet Village (Formerly Freeport Braintree) that has its own railway station which is still called Braintree Freeport.
A new railway station could be called Clacton North. And also to serve nearby villages including Little Holland, Great Holland and Little Clacton.