RAIL users in the city should benefit from £170million of investment being spent on the Greater Anglia line to London.

It’s hoped the Network Rail package, which includes upgrades of the overhead lines, track and signalling, will improve reliability.

The announcement comes at the same time the Great Eastern Rail Report is being sent to Government after a task force was set up earlier this year.

The report is proposing a “once in a lifetime opportunity”

for the Chancellor to invest in the region.

The upgrading of the line will be carried out between May and October on weekend nights, and on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from mid-to-late evening onwards to avoid the peak periods.

Simon Burns, MP for Chelmsford and a member of the rail task force, said: “It is imperative, given the dynamism and potential of the East of England economy that the transport infrastructure and connectivity is improved so as to realise the full potential of Essex and the East of England.”

More than 1,300 passenger trains and about 100 freight trains a day use the line between Liverpool Street, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.