Trains between Ipswich and Saxmundham will be affected as renewal work on rail line between Westerfield and Woodbridge begins this weekend

Renewal work on an East Suffolk rail line is set to begin this weekend.

About 1.7 kilometres of track between Westerfield, outside Ipswich, and Woodbridge will undergo a revamp from Saturday evening until the early morning of August 17.

Work will affect Greater Anglia services from Ipswich to Saxmundham every day from Sunday, August 11 to Friday, August 16.

Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia, said the work was extremely important to help maintain the track and make it fit for the future.

The project will include renewing rail, sleepers and ballast as part of a wider renewal along the line.

Engineers will also replace jointed track with continuously welded rail which would reduce noise from passing trains and gives passengers a smoother ride.

It will also act as a follow up to last year’s work to stabilise a mile long section of embankment which was slipping away, posing a risk to signalling equipment, which could have fallen onto the line.

Mr Burles said: “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 work is carried out.”

Lawrence Bowman, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said the East Suffolk lines continued to see investments to update the track, some of which was 100 years old.

“There is never a good time to close a section of railway but having a longer period to work means we can do so much more with the time and it means a better and reliable railway for our customers,” he said.

“I’d like to thank everyone for your patience while we carry out this important work.”