Town fans who travel to games by rail should note that there will be major disruption on the line between Ipswich and London Liverpool Street for the next two months.

Every weekend from January 31st until March 22nd the line will be closed between Manningtree and Shenfield while maintenance work is carried out.

New track is set to be installed in the Colchester, Marks Tey and Witham areas, while overhead wires are being replaced at Chelmsford.

As a result, buses will be running between Billericay and Ipswich in both directions, significantly adding to travel times.

Town MD Ian Milne expressed his frustration that Network Rail had failed to inform either the Blues or the local media about the planned works.

"The club is disappointed at the lack of communication from Network Rail, however we are continuing to work with Abellio Greater Anglia to help supporters who may be affected get to games as easily as possible," Milne told the club site.

Milne is on Mark Murphy's Radio Suffolk show talking about the issue this morning from 10.30am.

The disruption covers all Town’s weekend games home and away from the Wigan match a week on Saturday until the visit to Watford on Saturday 21st March. More information can be found on the National Rail Enquiries website here or via Abellio Greater Anglia here.

Photo: Action Images

I_AM_GOD added 10:33 - Jan 23 Very typical of the railways. I know the work must be done,nut as always their communication leaves a lot to be desired. Use the line every day for work and so inconsistent.
3

gazzmac4 added 10:38 - Jan 23 Their suggested train based diversion is genuinely drive to Cambridge and use the line there!! Absolutely crazy!
1

itfchorry added 10:54 - Jan 23 Has Clegg joined Greater Anglia ?
4

DazBent added 11:09 - Jan 23 Renationalise the train service
7

ManofSteel added 11:15 - Jan 23 My journey from Clacton is going to be a nightmare. Train, then bus, then another bus, then train from Manningtree to Ipswich. Thank you, Network Rail!
2

emergencylime added 11:19 - Jan 23 I think these works should be delayed until, say, mid-May, so the conditions are more clement for the staff working on the lines.
2

essextractorboy93 added 11:42 - Jan 23 Don't think there is a worse run railway line in the whole of the country. Problems every day and they charge ridiculous amounts.
3

NoCanariesAllowed added 11:44 - Jan 23 How's this for ridiculous. The Reading home game is on my birthday so I was planning on catching the trains down from the Midlands like I normally do. Not only is the Liverpool St to Ipswich leg knackered by the above works, but they're also doing junction works between Watford Junction and London Euston on the same weekend. So if I wanted to use public transport for this game, I'd have to catch three trains, two buses and the tube, and my journey would take just shy of six hours. And I'd be paying nearly £80 for the privilege. And they wonder why we're all clogging up the roads with cars.

6

big_gaz67 added 12:15 - Jan 23 Man of Steel - you can get a bus direct from Clacton to Manningtree station.....
0

Mr_Evans added 13:22 - Jan 23 Why should NR make contact with the club with regards to engineering works? This work is advertised months and months in advance. This regions railways runs for hundreds of miles through countless cities and towns; and you expect them to contacts every business in every town and every country to inform them of disruption? Believe it or not, work like this needs to happen to ensure there's a safe operational railway. Although it is inconvenient to all, the weekends are actually the quietest time for these works to take place. The club should ensure they employ a travel liaison officer who can research rail, road, bus, boat whatever transport supporters use and advise them in advance.

0

Mr_Evans added 13:26 - Jan 23 Also these idiots blaming Greater Anglia.. All the infastructire: so that's signals, stations, bridges, tracks, viaducts.. That's all Network Rails property. Greater Anglia are just a train operating company, so if NR close the lines then the passengers and the train company have to just deal with it. If you were getting a taxi to Gatwick and the taxi driver told you that he'd have to take a diversion because the Highways Agency has decided to close and carry out work on the Dartford Bridge - you wouldn't have a pop at the taxi driver and blame him would you? Numb nuts. If you're going to criticise then at least have an educated opinion beforehand.

1

Superfrans added 13:59 - Jan 23 This will have a double impact on home attendances, since two of the games affected are against Brentford and Reading, both games which would result in heavy train traffic from London. A lot of their fans might not be bothered to come. The A12 is going to be a nightmare.
0

Monkaz added 14:00 - Jan 23 BBC reported this news story about a week ago.
0

ITFCGloryDays added 16:03 - Jan 23 There's always disruption its crap....
0

wokingblue added 17:47 - Jan 23 Mr_Evans is the Fat Controller......
2

itfchorry added 19:12 - Jan 23 Very funny Woking ! Mr Evans does sound a tad upset !!!
0

Warkys_Tash added 19:26 - Jan 23 Mr_Evans, do you work for NR by any chance it would appear you are a little touchy on the subject...
0

brazil1982 added 19:32 - Jan 23 This line has been toilet for over 20 years....always had problems.
0

itfchorry added 19:59 - Jan 23 Percy and Thomas were in the yard. Have you heard chuffed Percy - there is going to be a bus replacement servicece service from Liverpool Street to Manningtree and Mr Evans is not a happy chapy as they are all blaming Greater Anglia rather than Simon Clegg. I know what tooted Thomas let's paint the ticket barriers and make Mr Evans a cake.
0

yorksblue added 20:55 - Jan 23 God! It was pants when I did the journey in the 70s/80s. Even worse doing Stevenage to Ipso via Cambridge. No doubt the A12 is still equally sh*'te. You all have my sympathy.
1

yorksblue added 20:55 - Jan 23 God! It was pants when I did the journey in the 70s/80s. Even worse doing Stevenage to Ipso via Cambridge. No doubt the A12 is still equally sh*'te. You all have my sympathy.
0

Gazelle added 23:10 - Jan 23 I work for them. They don't replace the whole line at once, It's just easier to close the lot while they do it in bits.
0

sebastien1 added 00:40 - Jan 24 Don't quote me on this, if the highways agency acts like they usually do. I believe the A12 is going to be closed at times too. They always close roads off at night, and they're not adverse to closing them at weekends too.
1

KiwiBlue2 added 01:04 - Jan 24 it has Corporal Clegg written all over it.........
1

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