Felixstowe Line Dualling Scheme Set to Begin

A multi-million pound scheme which will greatly increase freight capacity on the Felixstowe Line and add resiliency to the passenger service is set to begin 7th April.

The £60.4m programme will see the installation of a 1.4km section of dual track heading west from Trimley Station. The new track will greatly expand line capacity allowing an extra 10 daily freight trains in each direction (the equivalent of 76 lorries for each train) along with improving the reliability of the hourly Greater Anglia passenger service.

The project will also see the upgrading of several level crossings and the installation of bi-directional signalling for more flexibility.

From 7 April the work will take place from 18.50 on Saturdays and all day Sundays on most weekends through the Autumn of 2019. During these times passenger trains will be replaced by a bus service.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said 2This is a significant upgrade to one of the most important freight routes in the country. This work will help us to meet the demand for freight to and from Felixstowe port, and at the same time, increase reliability for passenger services. The long term strategy to move more freight by rail is good for the UK economy and will lessen the traffic on busy roads like the A14.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “Together with Network Rail, Greater Anglia is investing in transforming the railway in East Anglia. In a couple of years the Felixstowe line will be transformed with brand new longer trains with more seats running on an improved line. In the meantime, I’d like to reassure customers that they will be able to complete their journeys on this line during the works, even if part of it is by replacement bus.”