Rail improvements between Shenfield and Witham will take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 9th January until 21st March. Each night, after 10:30PM, train commuters will be required to take buses to Witham from Billericay or Shenfield. All engineering work, including replacing 60-year-old cable, will be suspended for an 11-week period between June and September for the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Dave Ward, Network Rail route managing director, said: “This line is one of the busiest rail routes in the country and we need carry out crucial works to maintain and renew the railway. There is never an ideal time to carry out this scale of work and we thank passengers in advance for their patience.

“We do apologise for any disruption this may cause, but people will understand that the work is absolutely necessary.”