JOURNEYS between Suffolk and London will take an extra 30 minutes when Ipswich tunnel is shut for eight weeks during the summer, it was confirmed today.

JOURNEYS between Suffolk and London will take an extra 30 minutes when Ipswich tunnel is shut for eight weeks during the summer, it was confirmed today.

Rail operators One, Network Rail, and the Strategic Rail Authority are publishing the temporary timetable for the route tomorrow.

This will see travellers having to use coaches between Ipswich and Manningtree because of the total closure of the tunnel as the track is lowered to allow larger containers to travel through it.

Buses will link Ipswich station with Manningtree where trains will continue the journey to London.

On Sundays the buses will link Ipswich with Witham.

The bus link will mean journeys from Ipswich to London will take between 90 and 100 minutes rather than the 60 to 70 minutes that is normal.

During peak hours there will be some direct bus links to Manningtree from Felixstowe, Woodbridge, and Stowmarket.

Although there will be some extra parking at Manningtree, rail users are recommended to use the bus links.

Parking at Ipswich station will be free while there will be a £10 parking fee at the temporary park at Manningtree - which is nevertheless expected to fill up very quickly every day.

More than 50,000 copies of the temporary timetable have been printed, and rail managers will be handing out copies to commuters at Ipswich station early tomorrow morning.

nWill the tunnel closure cause you problems? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP41AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk