Network Rail has revealed that it plans to carry out major renewal work on the Saxmundham rail junction on the East Suffolk line in East Anglia this autumn.
The improvements to the important junction will make it more resilient and reliable, making it suitable for freight trains to travel across on the way to delivering materials for the construction of Sizewell C power station.
The work will require train services to be suspended on parts of the line on certain dates in late October and early November.
Network Rail is carrying out this work as part of its programme to prepare the Suffolk rail network to support the Sizewell Transport Strategy.
This strategy has the goal of ensuring that three-fifths (sixty per cent) of all materials are delivered to the Sizewell construction site by rail and sea, which will reduce reliance on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and thus cut traffic congestion and pollution on local roads.
Earlier this year, Network Rail replaced track on the line.
The Saxmundham rail junction connects the Leiston (Sizewell) branch line to the East Suffolk line.
It forms part of the designated rail route that heavy freight services will use to deliver materials to the Sizewell C construction site.
The junction is currently operated manually, but its modernisation will introduce a powered crossover.
This will be controlled by an integrated signalling system from Colchester, and will allow trains to switch between the branch line and the East Suffolk line.
While this work is taking place, engineers will take advantage of the closure to carry out work between Westerfield and Halesworth, where they will install signalling equipment and systems.
In addition, engineers will work at Bealings crossing to install new safety equipment.
Network Rail has scheduled the engineering work to take place over a period of nine days, starting on Saturday 24 October and finishing on Sunday 1 November 2026.
Details of how this will affect Greater Anglia services are available from the operator and from Network Rail.
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