From this Saturday, 25th October 2025, the East Suffolk Line will close for nine straight days, with passengers and motorists urged to plan ahead as train services will be suspended and several level crossings closed as the line is being upgraded.
Work on the line will include replacing the existing rails with continually welded track, giving a smoother ride for passengers and increasing the line speed, cutting existing journey times.
Two of the bridges on the line will also be tended to, these being the bridge across the River Deben and the River Alde, where strengthening and repair work to the two structures will be undertaken on the abutments.
The work will also assist Sizewell’s transport strategy enabling them to send more construction materials by rail in the coming years.
The duration of the works is due to take place across 18 days, spread out between Saturday, 25th October, to Sunday, 14th December.
The first is a full nine-day closure starting this coming Saturday to Sunday 2nd November. After this date, the line will be closed on four consecutive weekends from mid-November, on the 15th & 16th, 22nd & 23rd, 29th & 30th of November, 6th & 7th of December, and between Westerfield and Woodbridge only on Sunday 14th December.
On these dates, buses will replace Greater Anglia trains between Ipswich and Halesworth.
Trains from Halesworth to Lowestoft will continue to run as normal.
Motorists are also reminded that level crossings along this line will also be temporarily closed between October 25th and December 14th, including those at Melton station, Jetty Lane, Haywards and Ferry Lane.
The A1152, which crosses The East Suffolk Line at Melton Station, will close three times, between 2200 on Friday 24th October to 0600 on Wednesday 29th October, 1900 on Sunday 9th November to 0600 on Monday 10th November, and 2000 on Friday 5th December to 1800 on Saturday 6th December.
No road traffic or pedestrians will be able to use the Melton level crossing, and diversion signs will be in place.
While work is being undertaken on both the River Deben and River Alde railway bridges, their neighbouring level crossings, Ufford and Beversham will be closed to all road traffic and pedestrians between the following dates and times:
- 0001 Saturday 25th October to 05:00 Monday 3rd November
- 0001 Saturday 15th November to 04:00 Monday 17th November
- 0001 Saturday 22nd November to 04:00 Monday 24th November
- 0001 Saturday 29th November to 04:00 Monday 1st December
Simon Milburn, Network Rail’s infrastructure director for Anglia
“This investment is about securing the future of the East Suffolk line. Replacing the track and repairing the bridges will mean safer, more reliable journeys and less noise for passengers and communities. Importantly, it also plays a crucial role in supporting the Sizewell C project by making sure the railway is ready to carry construction materials by rail, helping reduce the impact on local roads. Thank you to passengers and communities for bearing with us while this work is carried out.”
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