Network Rail is warning Greater Anglia passengers that they face disruption next month as it replaces rails and sleepers between Battlesbridge and Southminster that are more than five decades old.
The work will last for seven days, beginning on Saturday 22 August and due to be completed by Friday 28 August. Replacing the ageing rails and sleepers will make railway journeys more safe, reliable and comfortable for passengers.
The single-track Crouch Valley Line links Wickford with Southminster, and has seven stations, including South Woodham Ferrars. Train services on the line are operated by Greater Anglia using Class 720 Aventra electric multiple units (EMUs).
The whole sixteen-mile line will close while the work is carried out, with replacement buses running from every station except Battlesbridge.
During the week, workers will inspect and maintain railway infrastructure, including bridges, overhead line equipment and signalling systems. They will also carry out work to improve drainage along the route, which will reduce the risk of flooding.
Workers will also take the opportunity of the closure to clear vegetation from the track environment, which will help to minimise the safety risks and delays that overgrown trees and plants can cause on the railway.
In addition, they will replace buffer stops at Southminster station, which are old and worn. And they will repair part of the platform at Burnham-on-Crouch station.
Network Rail is encouraging passengers to check before they travel and to leave extra time to complete their journeys.
“This essential work will help keep trains running safely and reliably on the Crouch Valley line for years to come. We’re replacing rails and sleepers that are more than 50 years old, alongside a range of other improvements across the route, to help reduce future faults and disruption for passengers.
“We’re sorry to passengers whose journeys will be affected while this work takes place, but replacing track of this age requires an extended closure so our teams can carry out the work safely and efficiently.
“There’s never an ideal time to close the railway, but we always plan these projects carefully to deliver the improvements the railway needs while minimising disruption as much as possible.”
Joe Kennedy, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia
Responses
North Fambridge has double track (passing loop) for few hundred metres as one train stops on platform 2 coming from Wickford and the other train coming from Southminster towards Wickford stops on platform 1. Allowing both trains to pass each other without disruptions.