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

The 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.

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.

Buses will replace trains between Norwich and Lowestoft on the following weekends:

• Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September

• Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October

Later in October, there will be bus replacement between Norwich and Lowestoft on nine consecutive days:

• Saturday 22 October to Sunday 30 October

This has been reduced from the previous planned sixteen consecutive days.

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

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