It is electrified at 25 kV AC using overhead wires and has a line speed of up to 100mph (161km h).
Notable landmarks along the route include London Liverpool Street, Stratford, the Olympic Park, Ilford Carriage Sidings, Chelmsford, Colchester, Manningtree, Stoke Tunnel (the only railway tunnel on the Great Eastern Main Line) and Felixstowe Container Terminal and Docks, as well as the Braintree branch from Witham and the short branch line to Colchester Town.A common sight on the line is the Siemens-built Class 360 EMU, operated by Greater Anglia and included with the route.