Network Rail is advising passengers that its workers will replace worn-out track near Ingatestone station in Brentwood in Essex over five consecutive weekends starting on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 January.

The work is designed to maintain the reliability of Greater Anglia trains running reliably between London Liverpool Street and Norwich. It will involve engineers replacing three sets of points, which are part of a passing loop on the main line, which enables faster trains to pass overtake slower trains. This will enable train services to run punctually.

Engineers will also install new track in order to minimise the risk of faults and therefore of delays. They will also install durable concrete sleepers in place of the timber sleepers that currently support the points.

Network Rail’s team will replace straight track over a distance of 450 metres, and will replace a buffer stop, an important feature of the passing loop which ensures that it can be used safely and flexibly.

While the work is being carried out, Greater Anglia services will be disrupted. Replacement buses will run on part of the line between London Liverpool Street and Norwich. Network Rail is encouraging passengers to check Greater Anglia’s website before they travel.

The work will also require the Ingatestone level crossing on Station Lane / Hall Lane to close to road traffic during all the weekends affected. On each weekend, the crossing will close at 23:00 on the Friday night and reopen on the Monday morning at 06:00. Drivers will be able to follow a short, signposted diversion.

Ingatestone is a village in the Brentwood area of Essex. Its station has a blue plaque paying tribute to Oxford College founder Dorothy Wadham. In 2022, Greater Anglia released a virtual tour of the station.

“This work will help to keep passengers moving safely and reliably on the Great Eastern main line for years to come. We’re really sorry for the disruption over the five weekends, but this is a vital job and we need the track access and level crossing closures to get it done.”

Liam Allen, Network Rail Anglia infrastructure maintenance engineer