Network Rail to start swing bridge work in East Anglia this autumn with bus replacement services between Norwich and Lowestoft

Network Rail will start work to upgrade electrical and mechanical systems inside three swing bridges this autumn, including for nine consecutive days in late October.

To allow the work to be carried out, there will be times when sections of the Wherry and East Suffolk Lines need to be closed.

As a result, there will be bus replacement services available between Norwich and Lowestoft.

The Lowestoft to Norwich Wherry line is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, having opened to goods on May 3, 1847 and passengers on July 1, 1847.

The iconic bridges at Reedham, Somerleyton and Oulton Broad are designed to carry trains over waterways and swing open to let boats through, but they are over 100 years old and their internal parts have become unreliable. During the project, Network Rail’s engineers will replace these parts, making the bridges less likely to develop faults and reducing the need for costly maintenance.

The upgrade will help Greater Anglia train passengers and boat users get to their destinations on time for years to come, while enabling the historic structures to keep being used in the modern day.

Buses will replace trains between Norwich and Lowestoft on the following weekends: September 24 and 25 and October 8 and 9.

Later in October, there will be a bus replacement between Norwich and Lowestoft on nine consecutive days from Saturday 22 to Sunday 30.

On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 in October, buses will also replace trains between Halesworth and Lowestoft.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “These bridges are an important part of our railway heritage and also critical pieces of infrastructure that keep both rail and boat traffic moving. Renewing the components will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and help keep services running safely, smoothly and reliably for our passengers, as well as maintaining access to the ports and marinas.”

Click the link to find out more about the project and for full details for rail passengers visit: https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/

Further work on the swing bridges will take place in spring 2023, with the dates of closures to be advised.