Railtrack today announced more details of train services over the Christmas period.

There will be no trains between Ilford and Liverpool Street all day on Christmas Eve, with buses linking Ilford and Stratford for connections with the underground, Docklands Light Railway and Silverlink services.

The last trains from Ilford will leave at 7.18pm to Ipswich, 7.43pm to Clacton and 8.43pm to Chelmsford and Colchester.

The last train to Ilford from Clacton is 7.47pm, from Colchester at 8.16pm and Chelmsford at 8.44pm while branch lines will close down earlier.

There will be no services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day with reduced peak services operating on December 27, 28 and 29 between Ilford and Liverpool Street.

Trains will run about every 15 minutes during peak periods on the Colchester line, while a Sunday service will operate at off-peak times with three trains an hour.

On Saturday, December 30, and New Year's Day, a Sunday service will run on most lines when trains will run through to Liverpool Street instead of stopping at Ilford as previously thought.

A similar service to Christmas Eve is being offered on New Year's Eve but there will be no trains between Colchester and Colchester town or on New Year's Day.

A spokesman for Railtrack said seat reservations were not available on First Great Eastern. Although there should be enough room, commuters were asked to stagger their journeys on December 27, 28 and 29 if possible.

"We are expecting many people to work during this period and there will be far fewer trains than usual.

"It is likely to be busy and if people can start earlier or later than usual, they will have a better journey," he added.

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