Network Rail has completed six consecutive days of work on the East Suffolk Line to reduce the chance of disruption to passengers between Lowestoft and Ipswich in future.

Vital improvements have been carried out on a railway bridge over the River Deben.

Engineers from Network Rail completed the six consecutive days of work on the East Suffolk Line between stations at Melton and Wickham Market.

The work was needed because the timbers under the rails were deteriorating.

The old timbers have been fully replaced, with brand-new rails installed across the bridge.

Rail replacement buses ran between Ipswich and Saxmundham while the project was being delivered over the six days last week.

East Anglian Daily Times: The rail bridge over the River Deben before the timbers and rails were replaced. Picture - Network RailThe rail bridge over the River Deben before the timbers and rails were replaced. Picture - Network Rail (Image: Network Rail)

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This improvement work will help us maintain high levels of punctuality on the East Suffolk Line. 

"With our new trains having raised service standards on this important route, this engineering work will help secure the reliability of the rail infrastructure and provide a more comfortable journey for passengers."

Mark Walker, Network Rail Anglia route infrastructure engineer, said: “Thank you so much to passengers for bearing with us during the work.

"We needed to replace these bridge timbers and required an extended stretch of access to the railway to do it.

"Our focus is to run a safe and reliable railway all year round, reducing the risk of any sudden disruption or longer closures.”

Network Rail announced another bus replacement service will also run between Ipswich–Saxmundham and Ipswich–Felixstowe this Sunday to allow other essential maintenance to take place elsewhere on the line.