Ever since the first train station in Clacton was opened in 1882, the railway has been a hugely important transport link for the town. The railway has allowed local residents to travel to London and other parts of Essex for job opportunities and has also brought in countless numbers of holiday makers and day trippers alike. All of which has driven the growth of the town since the Victorian era.  

Today there are on average 61 passenger trains per day that go in or out of Clacton, with trains running every hour to London. However, until relatively recently Victorian signalling equipment was still being used on the line! 

In 2021 a major project to replace the previous signalling, some of which dated from 1891, was completed and a new, modern system was introduced to give the trains the information they need to travel safely and help make journeys more reliable. 

Last summer, Greater Anglia, the train operator for the East of England, announced the start of a £17 million project to construct a brand-new wheel lathe facility at the Clacton Rail Depot. The aim of this project is to further improve the performance and reliability of services in the region by allowing trains to be serviced much quicker than before and get them back to passenger service faster. 

After discussions with my office and the train operator, I understand that these improvements means that there is scope for more regular trains from Clacton to Colchester — and consequently London — at some point in the future. 

More regular trains would mean we would be even better connected than we already are. But I would be interested to hear from readers whether you think Clacton is currently adequately served by the train operator? Please contact me at nigel.farage.mp@parliament.uk to let me know whether you think there should be more regular services in and out of Clacton, and how it would benefit you.