TRAIN travellers are being warned of disruption as weekend upgrade and renewal works get underway.

Network Rail is warning works will be taking place on the main line to Liverpool Street to improve reliability for train services.

The works will continue to replace the overhead line electrification system between Stratford and Maryland causing delays from Colchester to London Liverpool Street.

These works will take place on weekends from Saturday January 16 to Sunday February 21. Track renewal and maintenance works will also take place between Colchester and Ipswich on January 9 and 10 and on February 13 to 14.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “We’re planning to do a lot of work early in the new year which means we have to close a large section of the main line for several weekends.

‘We are planning to complete the major overhead line renewals work at Stratford by Easter so the new systems are in place for the warmer summer months, improving reliability for passengers and reducing the risk of cancellations and delays from heat related speed restrictions.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “A rail replacement bus service will operate while the work takes place.

“Passengers should allow more time for their journey and check before they travel. We would like to thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

It comes after Network Rail engineers worked over the Christmas and new year period to deliver a major package of upgrades throughout the region.

This included Colchester station where switches and crossings units were replaced.

COMMUNTERS are being warned to check before travelling weekend upgrade and renewal works get underway this month.

Network Rail is warning essential works will be taking place in the Great Eastern main line from January to February to improve reliability for train services.

The works will continue to replace the overhead line electrification system between Stratford and Maryland.

These works will take place on weekends from Saturday 16 January to Sunday 21 February.

Other maintenance works will be taking place along the main line to Shenfield at the same time on several footbridge structures at Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Brentwood as well track maintenance at Ilford and Shenfield which can only be done when the lines are closed.

Track renewal and maintenance works will also take place between Colchester and Ipswich on weekends January 9 to 10 and on February 13 to 14, which will also affect Greater Anglia services on the Great Eastern main line.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “We’re planning to do a lot of work early in the new year which means we have to close a large section of the main line for several weekends for which I apologise.

‘We are planning to complete the major overhead line renewals work at Stratford by Easter 2021 so that the new systems are in place for the warmer summer months, improving reliability for passengers and reducing the risk of cancellations and delays from heat related speed restrictions.’

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “A rail replacement bus service will operate while the work takes place.

"Passengers should allow more time for their journey and check before they travel. We would like to thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“We are working with Network Rail to modernise the railway in East Anglia. As part of this, we are replacing every single train in our fleet with a brand new one.

“We’d like to reassure customers that they can travel safely with us whether it be by train or bus and remind people to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth for all of their journey, including on buses, trains or stations.”

It comes after Network Rail engineers worked over the Christmas and New Year period to deliver a major package of upgrades throughout the Anglia region.

The work included improvements to the track, structures and equipment and will lead to fewer delays for passengers across the whole region.

Critical works were completed on the Great Eastern Main Line, which are crucial to running a reliable service between Norwich and London and also impacts some of the branch lines.

This included Colchester station where switches and crossings units were replaced and a crossover was refurbished at Norwich station.

These are pieces of track that enable trains to change lines and use any of the platforms at each station.

Overhead wire and track maintenance work was also carried out on the Clacton-On-Sea branch line to prevent delays.

Ellie Burrows added: “All of this work, however large or small, has a positive impact across the whole network and is crucial to running a safe and reliable service for our passengers on all lines.

"I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out this important work.

"Further improvements are planned to take place over the coming weekends and I advise passengers to check before they travel."

Passengers planning to travel on the following dates are advised to check before travelling with their train operators:

• Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January 2021

• Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January 2021

• Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2021

• Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2021

• Saturday 06 and Sunday 07 February 2021

• Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February 2021

• Sunday 21 February 2021