Network Rail has been carrying out maintenance work on the London to Norwich line and the Harwich Branch.

Bridge works near Manningtree have been underway and are now complete alongside an essential replacement of overhead line infrastructure.

Network Rail completed additional work last month, with 66 old wheel timbers replaced on the River Stour and Cattawade Creek bridges.

This work has ensured rails remain in good condition and reduces the chance of track faults.

Between Colchester and Manningtree, old overhead line parts were updated to the newest version, which will help to improve the reliability of trains on the Great Eastern mainline.

This work also occurred on the Harwich branch line, seeing 17 overhead line support masts replaced so that they no longer lean.

Lastly, Network Rail replaced a fault section of line near Gidea Park Station at the end of last month, which prevented a speed restriction from needing to be put in place.

“These four September weekends gave us the time to complete a series of vital jobs that we simply couldn’t have got done if trains were running. Thank you to passengers for bearing with us while we made the very most of our track access to boost reliability, including on 28 September when we had to carry out additional works near Gidea Park at short notice.”

Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia