Temporary hourly timetable introduced on Southminster line while Network Rail repair damage caused by extreme summer weather

Greater Anglia has drawn up a new temporary timetable to make services on the Southminster line more reliable, while emergency repairs are being carried out to track damaged as a result of this summer’s extremely hot and dry weather.

Speed restrictions are currently in place on the Wickford to Southminster branch line, which Network Rail introduced after this summer’s extreme dry weather dried out the clay underneath the track which can destabilise the track and cause worse damage and disruption.

Network Rail has been working every day since late August to repair the 16 miles of track, but the work, which is a complex operation, is not yet finished.

Now Greater Anglia and Network Rail have agreed a temporary timetable to make the service more reliable for passengers while the work continues.

An hourly service will operate between Southminster and Wickford from Monday 3 October until the works are complete and the normal timetable can resume. Details of the timetable can be found on the National Rail Journey Planner and on the Greater Anglia website.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We’re very sorry for the inconvenience caused to our Southminster line customers while this work is going on.

“We’re working hard with Network Rail to get the line back to normal as soon as possible, but our first priority has to be safety.

“In the meantime, this temporary timetable should give customers a more consistent and reliable service.”

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “I want to reassure passengers that we have a plan of work in place to return services to normal as soon as we can on the Southminster branch line. I am really sorry for the disruption this is causing and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these repairs.”