South Essex rail passengers face another series of disruptions in early September as vital upgrading work is carried out between Pitsea, Grays and Stanford-le-Hope.

Work on the 9.7km stretch of track is being carried out by train operator c2c to ensure the service runs more reliably in the future.

As a result, the line will be closed over the weekends of August 31/September 1, September 7/8 and September 14/15.

A replacement bus service will run while the line is closed.

c2c route director David Taylor said: "We have worked closely with Railtrack to minimise the effects on our passengers' journeys and felt it would be better to have the work take place over a short period of time rather than dragging it out over months and months."

In addition to the weekend works, the line will be closed between Stanford-Le-Hope and Pitsea on the five consecutive days beginning Monday, September 2.

The work has been scheduled to take place in a block rather than making passengers suffer the alternative of disruption to services for 22 weekends in a row.

Published Wednesday August 28, 2002

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