Network Rail will be undertaking track maintenance and renewing timber in Norfolk and Suffolk on five consecutive weekends, beginning the weekend after next.

The work will take place between Norwich and Cromer, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, and Lowestoft on:

• Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October
• Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October
• Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October
• Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October
• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November.

The maintenance work helps to keep signalling and control systems working properly, which keeps the railway safe. Workers will also be enhancing the stability of the railway tracks by clearing wet beds – sections of track which become saturated by water, causing dips in the rails which make train ride bumpy.

Network Rail will also be renewing sleeper timbers in the Brundall Gardens area which have reached the end of their service life. Renewing them will help to keep operations safe and prevent potential speed restrictions.

The railway will remain open, with trains running, on the weekend of 14 and 15 October. On every other weekend, rail replacement buses will operate between Norwich and Sheringham. Buses will call at all stations except Gunton, which is inaccessible by road.

Buses will replace trains between Lowestoft and Halesworth on the East Suffolk line on 14 and 15 October only. Connecting trains will run between Halesworth and Ipswich.

On the weekends of 28 and 29 October, and 4 and 5 November, buses will replace trains between:

• Norwich and Great Yarmouth, calling at Brundall Gardens, Brundall, Lingwood, and Acle.
• Lingwood and Reedham, calling at Cantley.
• Norwich and Lowestoft, calling at Oulton Broad North.

Rail replacement buses will not call at Buckenham, Haddiscoe and Somerleyton because roads are inaccessible.

Full details and journey planners are available from Greater Anglia or National Rail.

Mark Walker, Network Rail Anglia route infrastructure engineer, said: “We’re focused on delivering important maintenance tasks, to maintain the safe and efficient running of the railway.

“Completing these tasks will directly contribute to the reliability of train journeys and safety which is our top priority. I want to thank all our customers for their patience while we carry out these essential maintenance tasks.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This work is extremely important to help maintain the safe and reliable running of the railway – we would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this work is carried out. A rail replacement service will run while the work takes place and passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey.”