ESSEX rail passengers are being thanked for their patience after services were disrupted over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Overhead works on the Greater Anglia line between Liverpool Street and Shenfield meant journey times were longer than usual.

The engineering work took place as part of ongoing preparations to upgrade the line for Crossrail trains.

Network Rail area director Steve Hooker said: “While the majority of services ran as planned throughout the weekend, it was an opportunity to deliver vital improvement works and we thank passengers for their patience.

“We successfully used this time to continue to improve this busy main line and this work will help to provide passengers, who travel on this route every year, with more reliable journeys.”

Network Rail is spending £170million on the Great Eastern main line in 2015.