Work to secure the reliability of the East Suffolk Line between Melton and Wickham Market stations has been completed after Network Rail engineers worked for six consecutive days to make vital improvements to a bridge that carries the railway over the River Deben.

This work will reduce the chance of disruption to services in the future and was needed because timbers under the rails were deteriorating. If the work had not been carried out, speed restrictions might need to have been imposed on that section of the line, which would have affected every train that crossed the bridge and caused delays to passengers.

The work was carried out over the six days from 20 to 25 August. Work on the bridge involved completely replacing the old timbers and installing brand-new rails across the bridge.

While the work was in progress rail replacement buses were provided between Ipswich and Saxmundham.

Rail replacement buses will again be running instead of trains next Sunday, 3 September between Ipswich–Saxmundham and Ipswich–Felixstowe because engineers will be carrying out essential maintenance works.

Mark Walker, Network Rail Anglia route infrastructure engineer, said: “Thank you so much to passengers for bearing with us during the work. We needed to replace these bridge timbers and required an extended stretch of access to the railway to do it. Our focus is to run a safe and reliable railway all year round, reducing the risk of any sudden disruption or longer closures.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This improvement work will help us maintain high levels of punctuality on the East Suffolk Line. With our new trains having raised service standards on this important route, this engineering work will help secure the reliability of the rail infrastructure and provide a more comfortable journey for passengers.”