WORK on a huge package of improvements to north Essex’s railway lines is being carried out over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Rail travellers will face cancellations, delays and replacement bus services over the weekend of August 29, 30 and 31, while Network Rail does the work.

The upgrades are part of a £50million set of measures on the lines linking Liverpool Street with north Essex and Southend.

A new £104million signalling system on the line between Colchester, Clacton and Walton is also being tested that weekend, promising even more disruption.

However, passenger groups say the problems will be worth it in the long run.

Derek Monnery, chairman of the Essex Rail Users’ Federation, said: “All the new signals are going to be put in position and switched on.

“It is the culmination of months of work and they really do need three days to do it.”

The replacement signals will allow trains to travel safely in either direction on both tracks between Colchester and Marks Tey, something rail chiefs hope will improve flexibility and reduce delays.

The work between Liverpool Street and Chelmsford will include renewing overhead power lines, so problems can be remedied more swiftly in future.

Work on the new transport hub at Stratford, for the 2012 Olympics, will also be continuing.

For passengers, the triple-whammy of works means the main line will be closed between Liverpool Street and Stratford and between Witham and Manningtree and Colchester Town.

Replacement buses will be in operation and passengers are warned to check bus times before they travel.

For details, call 08457 484950, or go to www.nationalrail.co.uk