Autumn Swing Bridge Upgrades UPDATE
Network Rail will start work to upgrade electrical and mechanical systems inside three swing bridges next month which will affect East Suffolk Lines and Wherry Lines rail services in October.
The iconic bridges at Oulton Broad, Somerleyton and Reedham were designed to allow rail traffic in the closed position whilst swinging open to let boats through. All three structures are now more than 100 years old with their internal mechanisms becoming more and more unreliable.
During the upgrade, Network Rail’s engineers will replace old parts making the bridges less likely to develop faults; this is also intended to reduce the need for costly maintenance. The project will help Greater Anglia train passengers and boat users get to their destinations on time for many years to come.
Buses Replace Trains
For the work to be carried out, there will be times when parts of the East Suffolk Line and the Wherry Lines will be closed to trains and a rail replacement bus running instead.
East Suffolk Line Closure: Halesworth – Lowestoft
- Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October (Note: trains will run Ipswich – Halesworth both days)
Wherry Lines Closure: Norwich – Lowestoft
- Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September
- Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October
- Saturday 22 October to Sunday 30 October inclusive (this has been reduced to 9 days from the previously planned 16 consecutive days).
Additional work will take place in Spring 2023 with the dates of closures to be advised.