Passengers travelling between Colchester and the coast will face disruption in late April as Greater Anglia introduces rail replacement buses for late-night services. The change is due to essential track maintenance being carried out by Network Rail, which is working to improve reliability and keep lines safe.
The adjustments affect routes on the Sunshine Coast Line on Saturday 25 April, as well as Monday 27, Tuesday 28, and Wednesday 29 April 2026. During these periods, the final direct train from Colchester to Clacton-on-Sea will depart at 11.15pm. Later services, including the 12.30am bus to Clacton-on-Sea, will rely on replacement transport that is expected to take one hour and 15 minutes, more than double the time of a standard train journey.
For those heading towards Walton-on-the-Naze on 27, 28, and 29 April, the 11.15pm service from Colchester will be diverted to terminate at Clacton-on-Sea instead. A replacement bus will then complete the journey to Walton-on-the-Naze, with stops at Kirby Cross and Frinton-on-Sea, taking approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. Additionally, the 11.18pm arrival from London Liverpool Street will terminate at Colchester, with passengers required to transfer to a bus to reach Clacton-on-Sea.
Travellers are advised to plan for longer journey times and check the Greater Anglia app for the latest updates before they set off. Because bus stops may be located some distance from stations, passengers should consider purchasing paper or eTickets in advance to assist with their journey.
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