THERE are planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place on parts of the East Anglian rail network over the Easter period.

Greater Anglia is urging customers to check before they travel and plan ahead.

Key services affected by alterations include:

• Great Eastern Main Line services between Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester, Chelmsford and London from 29 March to 1 April inclusive (due to work on the new station at Beaulieu Park), with bus replacement services in place between Witham and Billericay and Chelmsford and Shenfield.
• Ipswich to Cambridge (29/30 March), Ipswich to Peterborough (31 March) and Norwich to Cambridge services (29 March to 1 April inclusive with, as outlined, different routes affected by bus replacement on separate days over the Easter weekend
• West Anglia services between Cambridge, Stansted Airport and Hertford East to London, where journey times will be extended as trains are diverted via Stratford into London on Sunday/Monday 31 March/1 April.

Customers can find all train times by using the journey planner on the Greater Anglia website or app.

 Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said:

“This work is extremely important to help maintain the safe and reliable running of the railway and in some cases, enable infrastructure improvements or work on a new station.

“A rail replacement service will run while the work takes place and passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey.

“We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this essential maintenance is carried out.”

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said:

“This Easter, we are continuing to deliver some of our big key projects, including re-signalling in the Cambridge area, the new station at Beaulieu Park, well as several smaller renewals projects to keep the railway working reliably – plus non-disruptive work on the new station at Cambridge South.

“Much of the railway across Anglia will be open, but I would encourage everyone to check their journey plans before travelling and leave extra time if travelling via Cambridge or Chelmsford.”

Great Eastern Main Line routes via Chelmsford/Shenfield

To facilitate the construction of the new Beaulieu Park station and track maintenance between Chelmsford and Shenfield buses will replace trains from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April between:

• Witham and Billericay (fast service for London bound passengers)
• Witham and Billericay calling at Hatfield Peverel and Chelmsford
• Chelmsford and Shenfield via Ingatestone (shuttle bus service)

Connecting train services will operate between Billericay and London Liverpool Street, serving Shenfield and Stratford.

Routes via Cambridge/Ely and Bury St Edmunds

To facilitate work to renew the existing signalling system, buses will replace trains on Friday 29 March and Saturday 30 March between:

• Cambridge and Ely via Cambridge North
• Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds via Newmarket.

On Sunday 31 March, buses will replace trains between:

• Norwich and Cambridge North
• Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough via Ely

On Monday 1 April, buses will replace trains between:

• Ely and Cambridge North

Routes between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East, Stansted Airport and Cambridge

Engineering work on structures will be taking place between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt on Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April. West Anglia and Stansted Express services will be diverted, running via Stratford and Tottenham Hale. Journey times will be extended by up to ten minutes. Trains will depart London Liverpool Street earlier than normal.

Local London buses will be available between Liverpool Street and Seven Sisters. Replacement buses will operate between Seven Sisters and Enfield Town / Cheshunt.

Please note that E-scooters, e-bikes and full-size bikes cannot be transported on any rail replacement buses.

Customers should check before they travel using the Greater Anglia website or app and allow more time for their journey.

Travel information can be found at: www.greateranglia.co.uk/servicealterations