COMMUTERS are facing further delays as railway bosses continue to work to repair damage to a track.

Restrictions were introduced between Southminster and Wickford at the end of August.

It was put in place after soil beneath the track bed on the line dried out and speed restrictions had to be imposed.

The damage was caused by the hot weather experienced over the summer. 

Greater Anglia had warned passengers they would face at least three weeks of delays, but more time is now needed.

Network Rail has been working since August to repair the 16 miles of track, but the work, described as "a complex operation", is not yet finished.

Greater Anglia and Network Rail have agreed a temporary timetable to make the service more reliable while the work continues.

An hourly service will operate between Southminster and Wickford from Monday.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We’re very sorry for the inconvenience caused to our Southminster line customers.

“We’re working hard with Network Rail to get the line back to normal as soon as possible, but our first priority has to be safety.

“In the meantime, this temporary timetable should give customers a more consistent and reliable service.”

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, added: “I want to reassure passengers that we have a plan of work in place to return services to normal as soon as we can on the Southminster branch line.

“I am really sorry for the disruption this is causing and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these repairs.”

Details of the timetable can be found on the Greater Anglia website.