Published on: Friday, 24 February 2023
Last updated: Friday, 24 February 2023
Greater Anglia is reminding passengers about upcoming engineering work which will affect some rail passengers in Suffolk.
Network Rail is continuing vital work on a section of the Ipswich to Lowestoft line.
The work will help boost reliability for passengers, but means that buses will replace trains between Ipswich and Saxmundham for 13 consecutive days from Saturday 25 March to Thursday 6 April.
Buses will leave from the front of Saxmundham station and as a result, customers will not be able to park at the station for the entire period of the works.
Network Rail is stabilising and widening a mile-long embankment to the north of Martlesham. The work is needed because the top of the embankment is slipping away, potentially affecting the future safe and reliable running of the line.
In addition, the work will allow essential track replacement to take place along the embankment in future, and make space for a new walkway for railway workers so they can get access to carry out maintenance.
There will be no service on the East Suffolk Line on 30 March and 1 April due to industrial action. Buses will not replace trains on these days.
Mark Walker, Network Rail Anglia route infrastructure engineer, said: “I want to thank everyone for their patience during the recent weekend closures, and I’m sorry that passengers will now face an extended stretch of bus replacement. However, the major work on this steep, high embankment is a vital part of making the East Suffolk Line fit for the future. It will help us avoid sudden disruption or closures, and pave the way for more much-needed track replacement.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This improvement work will help make trains even more punctual along the East Suffolk Line. Our new trains are already providing a very good service on the route and this engineering work will help ensure we can continue to deliver high standards of performance on a consistent basis and provide a more comfortable journey for passengers.
“A rail replacement bus service will run between Ipswich and Saxmundham while the work takes place, so customers can complete their journeys. We would advise everyone to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey. We would like to thank customers for their patience while this work is carried out.”
Full size bicycles and e-scooters cannot be carried on rail replacement buses.
Services on the Ipswich to Felixstowe line are unaffected and will run normally over this period.
During these works and the upcoming strike action, passengers are advised to check before they travel on our website.