On three consecutive weekends in April, train services on the East Suffolk line will be severely disrupted because of essential engineering work.

The work is in connection with important renewals and track maintenance.

The Sizewell C Project, where up to 60% of construction materials will be transported by rail and sea to minimise the use of HGVs on local roads.

Planned Work

Included in the planned work is:

• Relaying track at Saxmundham to provide smoother journeys and support freight services delivering heavy construction materials to Sizewell C.
• Replacing defective signal cables in the Saxmundham area to minimise service disruptions due to signal failures.
• Replacing wheel timbers and carrying out maintenance on Oulton Broad South swing-bridge.
• Carrying out site surveys at Woodbridge station in advance of track renewals.

Service Alterations

• There will be no Greater Anglia passenger services between Westerfield and Oulton Broad South on Saturdays and Sundays, 13 and 14, 20 and 21, and 27 and 28 April.
• On Saturdays and Sundays, 13 and 14, and 20 and 21 April, rail replacement buses will operate between Lowestoft and Ipswich
• On Saturday, 27 and Sunday, 28 April, buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Halesworth. Trains will still run between Halesworth and Lowestoft.
• Rail replacement buses from Saxmundham will not depart from the railway station, but instead depart from the bus stop on Chantry Rd (B1121), opposite Patmore Water Softeners building, a five-minute walk from the railway station.

Further work on the East Suffolk line is planned for the late May Bank Holiday at the end of May on Sunday, 26 and Monday, 27 May, when rail-replacement bus services will again be in operation.

Passengers intending to use Greater Anglia services on weekends in April should leave extra time and check their journey plans before travelling at nationalrail.co.uk or at greateranglia.co.uk.

These works are vital for the safe and smooth operation of our railway network and to support the transport strategy for the Sizewell C project to move construction materials by rail. Each improvement, inspection, survey, and maintenance task emphasises our commitment to passenger safety and helps us to provide efficient service for our passengers and freight operators.

I’d like to thank all our customers for their patience during these essential tasks.

Mark Walker, Network Rail Anglia route infrastructure engineer

We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this essential maintenance is carried out. This work is extremely important to help maintain the safe and reliable running of the railway. 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

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director