Work that will improve the reliability of journeys to and from London during May Day will aim to be minimally disruptive, while they deliver benefits for passengers who consistently use this line.

Services will only be affected during 1st and 2nd May between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield, meaning that the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend will be completely uninterrupted by the upgrades.

More than 11,000 members of Network Rail's engineering team will be working over the long weekend, delivering vital elements to the company's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan.

Some of the work taking place over the May bank holiday include the installation of structures at Seven Kings to carry new overhead lines, as well as improving reliability of the service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

Crossrail construction work is also taking place at Gidea Park to prepare the line between these stations for new, longer trains that will increase capacity when the Elizabeth line services start in December 2018.

Richard Schofield, Anglia's route managing director, said: "With passenger numbers continuing to grow and the demands being placed on our railways getting ever greater, it's vital that we get big chunks of time to get onto our railway to carry our heavy maintenance work and complete big investment schemes."