Work finishes at rail junction near power plant

News imageNetwork Rail Several people in orange overalls are on a railway track. They are carrying out improvements and a large piece of equipment is on the railway track. New track can be seen being put in place. Allotments border the railway line. Network Rail
Engineers have completed junction improvement work at Saxmundham

Work to improve a rail junction near a new nuclear power plant has finished.

The upgrades to the Saxmundham junction on the east Suffolk line were carried out over nine days.

Network Rail said the manually operated junction needed to be replaced with a powered system, along with the installation of modern railway equipment, in order to improve freight services to the Sizewell C construction site.

It would help improve "operational flexibility and railway performance" across the route, a spokesperson said.

The construction of Sizewell C on the Suffolk coast officially got under way in 2024, two years after the government granted permission for the project.

The rail junction connects the Leiston branch line to the east Suffolk line.

Sizewell C managers have already committed to transporting 60% of bulk construction materials by rail or sea.

Buses replaced trains while the works were carried out and Network Rail has thanked passengers for putting up with any disruption.

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.