Rail users hoping to travel to London over the May Bank holiday are facing disruption as Network Rail carries out more vital upgrades.

Trains will not be able to run between London Liverpool Street and Ingatestone or Wickford on Sunday, May 3, or Monday, May 4, as engineers will be renewing overhead lines, installing new track and upgrading the line in preparation for Crossrail.

A replacement bus service will be operated by Abellio Greater Anglia between a number of stations on the main line and Newbury Park tube station where passengers can continue their journey to Stratford or London Liverpool Street via the Central Line.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail route managing director, said: “These upgrades are a vital step towards us being able to provide better, smoother and more reliable journeys for the millions of passengers who use this essential rail artery every year.

“We try our best to minimise the impact on passengers and do most of the work behind the scenes, but there are big pieces of work that can only be completed when the railway is clear of trains.

"We would like to thank passengers in advance for bearing with us as it will mean some changes to their travel plans.”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Abellio Greater Anglia said: “Although there is never a good time for such works, this investment will help in our joint objective with Network Rail to deliver more consistent train service performance.

"We will be doing all we can to provide the best possible alternative service during these improvement works."

Work will be carried out at the following locations over the May Bank Holiday in the east of England:

Work will be carried out at the following locations over the May Bank Holiday in the east of England:

Between London Liverpool Street and Ingatestone/Wickford (Sunday May 3 and Monday May 4):

  • Maintenance work at London Liverpool Street to improve reliability
  • Crossrail works at Pudding Mill Lane near Stratford
  • New track installed at Chadwell Heath, east London
  • Overhead lines upgrades at Chadwell Heath and Gidea Park, east London
  • Engineers will also be upgrading the track layout at Brentwood in Essex in preparation for Crossrail

Between Ipswich and Felixstowe (late Saturday May 2, Sunday May 3 and Monday May 4):

  • 1,200 metres of new track will be installed at Derby Road meaning the line will be closed from 20.50 on Saturday May 2.
  • Rail replacement services will operate between Ipswich and Felixstowe on Sunday and Monday all day as the line is upgraded.

Between Ely and Peterborough (Sunday May 3 only):

  • As a result of track maintenance, the lines between Ely and Peterborough will be closed all day on Sunday May 3. 
  • Rail replacement services will operate between these two stations.