AUGUST bank holiday marks the start of weekend train disruption from Colchester and London Liverpool Street as major improvements are made to the tracks.

During weekends in autumn, buses will regularly replace trains also between Ingatestone and Marks Tey and Colchester and Ipswich, following vital works between Manningtree and Witham over the bank holiday.

Network Rail’s announcement affects passengers on varying dates from September 1 until November 25.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: “This engineering work is vital so together Network Rail and Greater Anglia can run a modern and reliable railway.

“We’re both investing in East Anglia to provide a railway fit for future generations and to support communities and the economy.

“I know customers prefer to stay on the train for whole of their journey, but I’d like to reassure people they will still be able to complete their journeys, even if part of it is by bus.”

Over the three-day weekend, Network Rail’s engineers will: n Install 120 metres of track, one set of points and one new buffer stop at Colchester station.

  • Replace 1,200 tons of ballast at Colchester
  • Install nearly 3km of track between Manningtree and Ardleigh on the mainline
  • Rail replacement buses will run between Ipswich and Ingatestone during works.

Work will also take place between Ipswich and Felixstowe as part of a £60.4 million programme to transform the single-track Felixstowe branch line.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “We’re carrying out a vast amount of work this bank holiday and over the autumn months to make crucial improvements to rail services as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work is carried out and advise passengers to check how their journey might be affected before they travel.”

These dates will be September 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 30; October 7, 13, 14, 28; and November 3, 4 (Colchester to Liverpool Street), 17, 18, 24, 25.

Visit nationalrail.co.uk or greateranglia.co.uk for more details.

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