Across September, Network Rail plans to carry out bridge and overhead line works along the Great Eastern main line and the Harwich branch line.
The work means that on weekends, buses will replace trains while the work is completed.
During the closures, engineers will be replacing 66 old wheel timbers (which hold the rails in place on both bridges) on the River Stour and Cattawade Creek bridges.
They will be replacing the overhead line equipment components, which will keep the line running reliably between Colchester and Manningtree.
The same type of overhead line work will also be carried out on the Harwich branch line, including an additional 16 overhead line support masts, as the current ones are beginning to lean.
Weekend work will take place on:
- Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September
- Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September
- Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September
- Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September
Further details can be found on National Rail’s website and on Greater Anglia’s website.
“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.”
Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia
Responses
Network Rail should also finish off replacing the last section of overhead wires on the Southend Victoria Line especially at Prittlewell and Southend Victoria. And also to start replacing ageing overhead wires on the c2c (LTS) line from Fenchurch Street to Barking, Upminster and all the way to Basildon, Pitsea, Southend Central and Shoeburyness. And with track renewals on the Southend Victoria Line that trains are running on reduced speed limit.