Cracking clay shrinks Essex railway tracks

Prolonged heat and a lack of rainfall this summer have caused the clay beneath railway tracks in Essex to dry out and shrink. This ground shrinkage has led to issues with track quality, impacting train services operated by c2c and Greater Anglia. GBR Anglia, which includes these operators and Network Rail Anglia, has stated that safety is its highest priority and has introduced changes to manage the situation.

Impact on train services

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Train timetable changes from August 25 due to heat

Journeys between London and Essex will take longer as speed restrictions are introduced.

Passengers travelling on the c2c route will experience timetable changes from 25 August. Services on the Greater Anglia line between Southend Victoria and London will see amended timetables from Tuesday 1 September. Journeys may take between two and eight minutes longer due to slower speeds. c2c has advised customers to travel earlier in the day or after peak times where possible and to expect potential short-notice delays and cancellations.

Network Rail's response and investment

Network Rail is investing £2.6 billion in track maintenance and renewals to protect the railway infrastructure from extreme weather. This programme includes using machines called tampers to create solid foundations beneath tracks and adding new ballast, the stones that support the rails and sleepers. In 2025, engineers treated 100km of track in the Essex area affected by dried-out soil. Thousands of tonnes of ballast were also used this summer to smooth tracks, with a further 49,000 tonnes expected to be added across 2026.

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Heatwave timetable changes affect c2c and Greater Anglia services

Journeys will take longer as speed restrictions are put in place due to dried-out ground conditions.

Future outlook and climate change

Experts suggest that current measures are temporary fixes. Dickon Ross, editor of Rail Magazine, told the BBC that while tampers and ballast are necessary, they are not long-term solutions and recurrence of these issues is expected. Scientists indicate that summers are becoming hotter and drier due to climate change, suggesting that such ground instability could become more frequent. GBR Anglia is continuing to monitor track conditions closely and may introduce further speed restrictions if necessary.