Rail passengers travelling between London and Norwich can expect delays this weekend as upgrade work gets underway.

Network Rail is planning to upgrade the line between London Liverpool Street and Ingatestone in Essex over the next 10 weekends.

It means passengers will have to use a bus replacement service for part of the journey.

A spokesman for Abellio Greater Anglia said: 'We will be working with Network Rail and doing all we can to provide passengers with the best possible alternative service during the weekends when improvement works on the mainline route are taking place.

'Passengers travelling during this time are advised to check their journey details in advance.'

During the first eight weekends, no train services will operate between London Liverpool Street and Ingatestone or Wickford.

A bus service will instead operate from Ingatestone/Wickford, calling at Newbury Park for the Central Line.

Transport for London is also to run a bus replacement between Stratford and Shenfield.

During the final two weekends, rail replacement services will operate from Chelmsford and Witham to Billericay where passengers can change for train services to and from London.

The planned improvement works aim to modernise the overhead lines that power the trains. There will also be track renewals at Maryland, Forest Gate and Shenfield.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail route managing director, said: 'Of course, there is never a good time to close the railway, and so I'd like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding.'

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